Ellie’s Path

By James C. Bennett

Walk with Ellie on her path through life. Feel her peaks, and feel her lows. Experience her life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9781665509978

James C. Bennett

I am a man that has had stories that have lived within him, and surrounded him. They have begged to be free. This is my first attempt to have one bursting to be told. For my satisfaction, and for your enjoyment.

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© 2021 James C. Bennett. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or

transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse  12/11/2020

ISBN: 978-1-6655-0998-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-0996-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-0997-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020924105

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in

this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views

expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the

views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Chapter 1     Woodlands

Chapter 2     Growing

Chapter 3     Undying Love

Chapter 4     Friends

Chapter 5     Home for Good

Chapter 6     The World Opens

Chapter 7     Paths are Formed

Chapter 8     Two Paths

Chapter 9     Love’s Path

Chapter 10   Unions

Chapter 11   A Path Ends

Chapter 12   Neighbors

Chapter 13   Memories

Chapter 14   Joe

Chapter 15   Life/Death

Chapter 16   Personalities

Chapter 17   Treasures

Chapter 18   Life Goes On

Chapter 19   The Story

CHAPTER 1

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WOODLANDS

A S SHE WALKED along the path, her senses became alive. A slight breeze waived familiar fragrances that recalled forgotten pleasures. The canopy was a combination of various shades of soft greens, very comfortable to the eyes. She could feel a transformation as if she was being lifted to a higher plane. Her thoughts were in reverence to all that was good and peaceful. A slight stirring of the leaves and a distant song of a cardinal completed the ambiance. Her steps were cushioned by the soft forest floor and the smell of the rich loamy soil added stability to her being.

It was early morning and a mist was drifting from the forest floor. The sun, just rising, was placing a crown atop a tall majestic pine and a small shaft of light had formed a halo around some mayflowers. Turkeys, descending from their lofty perches, gobbled to greet the day.

Suddenly she stopped, a movement ahead, then recognition, as a doe crossed the path. How beautiful, she thought, And it seemingly has no fear of my presence. It had been a long time since she had experienced the pleasures that nature had to offer. How much she had missed the tranquility. In this half-conscious state, her toe caught a root, and she flopped unceremoniously to the ground. She lay there, taking mental note of various parts of her body. No pain, just embarrassment at being so clumsy.

As she rose to her feet, it had become lighter up ahead. As she strode further, the forest gave way to an open glade, she stopped and settled in with her back resting against a large oak tree. The glade was quite open, allowing the warmth of the sun to be felt. She closed her eyes and the joys of that morning gave way to remembering experiences of the past.

She had been christened Ellenore Mary Stuart, but she despised the name Ellenore, so insisted everyone call her Ellie. Ellie had grown up on a small farm in Parth, Pennsylvania. Her playmates were the animals on the farm, cousins and a few boys from area farms. Ellie was a tomboy through and through. She could fight with the best of the boys, climb to the highest rafters in the barn and without fear, walk the narrow beams from one end of the barn and back, challenging the quivering boys to do the same. The love of animals became instilled in Ellie.

A large woodlot on the farm was Ellie’s special place. The woodlot was a mature deciduous stand of trees, maple, oak, beech, hickory, black walnut, butternut and ash. It provided an additional wealth by providing an abundance of bounties. Tapping the maple trees in spring, yielding sap that could be converted into delicious maple syrup and hard sugar. In the fall, the nuts from the hickory, black walnut and butternut trees could be gathered to be feasted on at a later date. The ash made excellent fence posts, and the oak when sawn and split, provided needed warmth and the cheer of a glowing fire during long winter days and nights.

She would go here to sort out her many new feelings and confusions. It was a place where all of the strangeness of growing up could be melted away by its tranquility. Ellie loved sitting and watching the squirrels scampering along the ground, then up the trees from limb to limb. How free they are, she would think. It brought a soothing wave of calmness over her.

Ellie remembered, as the years passed, she would go there more and more. It seemed that its calming effects could override the troubles and doubts of leaving childhood and preparing for life beyond. Ellie was shaken from her reverie by a loud clap of thunder. Clouds were beginning to roll across the heavens. Quickly, Ellie rose to her feet and hastily started on the return trip to home. She hadn’t realized the distance she was from the house. No longer did she embrace the magic of the forest, her task was to concentrate on the path. Just as she was coming toward the house, the skies opened up. Even the cold drops of water, however, felt refreshing. Ellie then thought about how excited it made her feel to watch as lightning spewed its fingers of light and the exhilaration of the rumbling of the thunder.

Once inside, Ellie quickly changed into some dry clothes, threw a small afghan over her shoulders and started a fire in the fireplace. Slowly, the warm pleasantness returned.

Ellie’s new home was modest, but extremely comfortable. As with her past, Ellie had never needed extravagance. She had always thought that material things were only necessary to sustain life. Your pleasures were gained from all around you.

As Ellie settled into the soft overstuffed chair in front of the fire, like all fires, the flames became mesmerizing and the warmth and placidness caused Ellie to again drift to beyond the present. Ellie was picturing the things that she had treasured most growing up on that farm. Her loves were simple, horseback riding (how she loved horses), swimming in the farm pond and in later years, swimming and water skiing in the nearby river, caring for the animals, helping with the milking, watching and caring for the newborn animals. Of course, there was always a bevy of barn cats and their young. She would always sneak them a little of the milk. The cats were very useful in that they kept the rodent population under control.

As she grew, Ellie became close friends with two girls from neighboring farms. Her world expanded as the girls would have sleepovers and tell each other secrets. The other two girls were slightly older and had more experiences. Ellie would listen with awe when they told about kissing boys and other adventures. Ellie had not had any experiences in these matters, but it caused her to imagine what wondrous things lie ahead for her.

Ellie awoke, as the fire had died down and she could, by contrast, feel a coolness settling in. She quickly got up from her comfortable chair, stirred the fire, and placed two more chunks of wood on the coals. She realized through everything, that she had not eaten since that morning. "What to eat?’, she thought. Ellie knew she was hungry, but didn’t really want to fix anything big. She was only cooking for herself, and therefore, wasn’t inclined to prepare meals like she used to.

Ellie ambled to the kitchen and stood there for a second thinking, What do I really want to eat? Ah, soup and crackers, that’ll do the trick. After fixing the meal, Ellie strode back and sat in her easy chair in front of the fire. A TV tray, even though she didn’t have a TV, was all that was needed so she could dine on her gourmet dinner.

After eating and cleaning up, it was back in front of the fireplace. Ellie put two more pieces of wood on the fire, grabbed a book and nestled into the chair.

When Ellie was young, she hardly ever read, only when it was assigned by a teacher. Ellie would much rather be outside looking for what adventure was ahead. In recent years, reading books became an adventure, where she could become the character and live everything through them.