A Single Two By Four, She Languishes

Once upon a time there was a single 2’ by 4’ in perfect condition. The sweet little thing was so excited when a human came to the big store, wandered over where she lay, and in their grand design for their project, called an employee over. They purchased a whole pallet full of 2 by 4’s and she was giddy, for she was one of the last boards on the bottom. She thought, she was going to have to wait and wait as one by one each 2’ by 4’ was purchased. But NO, the whole pallet! She was about to become a part of a great design. This person would be protected in part, by her strength, she just knew it was going to be a perfect house. She had no curves that she could see, she was not warped like some of the boards in the bundle.

The drive was forever, and as the big truck pulled up to the work site she could see this house was going to be grand!

The driver unceremoniously lifted the back of the delivery truck and dumped the pallets onto the ground. Whump.

From her viewpoint she could see the house, she could also see all the other pallets still unused and she could hear each piece of wood making small noises like her, a little squeak translated to Oooo, ah, and a little pop from one of the younger 2 by 4”s, that could not hold their excitement. Sure, human’s think we are still a little green and that is the sounds they hear but no, it is all of us just waiting to be added to this marvelous home, chatting away.

One by one the huge piles of 2” by 4”s were opened. A few at a time were taken to the house and added. She could hear the zing, zing as each screw bit in and adhered each board to the frame of the house. They dwindled until there were no more 2” by 4”s in the bundles. The framing looked like it was almost finished. She knew this because her mother told her their purpose,, the log she came from, the log that gave her life to make her and all the 2” by 4”s around her, had told her the story. Beginning, that she came from a farmed log and was just for just this purpose, to build a home to protect the soft humans, from the wild and the weather. So she readied herself, she was a bit concerned about the screws but because she knew what they were for she prepared herself. 

As each day went by she stayed happy, she wondered, where will I be in this grand place? Will I be in the kitchen? That is the heart of most houses. Or will I be in the bedroom that would be quite the experience. Maybe, I will end up in the hall; since most humans use the halls to their houses to get to and fro, I would never be lonely someone would be brushing by me every day. They might not see me but I would feel them. I’m not so sure I would want to be in the bathroom, damp at least twice a day I might not be with the house through all its years. The front room then, I will hope for that room, guests are always welcome, and being the proverbial fly on the wall so to speak I will never be bored. (Ha ha hahah I made a subliminal joke…bored/board).

Finally, the last day the workers got to her bundle. 

The day was bright there was no chance of rain. She knew today was the day. For some reason the whole process slowed down, at first she thought to herself, it must be me, I’m so excited everything is passing by slower. But it wasn't, the workers were nearing the end of the job. Each time the workers came for a few more 2” by 4”s they only grabbed one or two, instead of a whole armful. As the day progressed she became a little concerned, although the 2” by 4’s were dwindling closer and closer to her, she still had not been added to the house. She became pensive. What is…ran through her head, no, no she thought that won’t happen.

Now there were only seven boards left. It hurt in her core, her heart was full of knots, when the worker came over to grab the last, she was scooped up. The worker laid all of them down right next to the house. Her world again became bright. One by one, the worker picked them up. He paused, she was the last, he looked down at her and shook his head. She heard him say something but not knowing human she did not understand.

The worker bent over, lifted her into the air and then began to walk away from the house. He walked past the garage, and rested her in a corner next to the recently finished fence.

At first she was confused, but as the days passed the workers rolled out the sod, then day after day she heard people walking to and fro and she understood. She was not needed for the house, not abandoned, but not needed. And there she sits feeling a waste of great energy, the perfect 2’ by 4 ”.

I hear her calling; won’t you bring her to me?  Our Huge Tiny House is not going to be so grand but still she will be protecting us, would that not be better than aging and rotting in a dark garage or behind your shed?  

We really want to put her to good use. She will be loved.

Cecile and Michael are building a temporary Huge Tiny House to house them after a dozen unusual situations all came to a head. They have set a goal to use 90% reclaimed wood as well as all the usual amenities, having gleaned  them from their abandoned state. This will be a green passive house with all alternative water, heat and electrical needs.   

 http://desperateforhousing.blogspot.com/2014/07/clearing-up-few-misconceptions.html