The Problem with Dreams

Chapter 6 - A Visit for Matt

            "Which is why you don't want her knowing about the letters," Matt said.

            "Yes. I am curious to know what she will think about the letters and the notebook, but I believe she will be pleased when she finds out about the cave," Greg said.

            "It is pretty cool," Matt said. "Our house doesn't have anything like this."

            "Most houses don't," Greg agreed. "Down this short hall is a powder room, the master bedroom, and on the other side of that will be a large deck. On the other side of the house, on the level even with this one is the dining room, three additional family bedrooms, an additional bathroom and another deck. One of those bedrooms will be for you, Matthew," Greg told him.

            "Which one?" Matt asked in surprise.

            "Which one do you want?" Greg asked.

            "You mean I get to choose?"

            "If you'd like," Greg said.

            "I have the one in the middle, but we haven't picked rooms for Jessie and you yet," Zack told his brother.

            "Shall we go look?" Greg suggested.

            "Okay," Matt agreed eagerly.

            They crossed the family room again to look at the rooms on the other side, starting with the  dining room. It had windows facing in two directions. One looked towards the oak tree covered hill, the other towards the cliff and retaining wall being created by Mr. Sato. It also had the beginnings of the balcony beside it facing the cave.

            The long hall leading to the bedrooms was next and they inspected each of them. They were large and roomy, though not so large as the guest rooms downstairs.

            "So what do you think, Matthew?" Greg asked curiosly as he watched the boy carefully examining each room.

            "They're cool. Why'd you choose the middle one Zack?"

            "Cause it's in the middle and sort of close to the balcony and the family room," Zack explained. "I could decide which was better."

            Matt nodded. "Can I have this one on the end?" he asked.

            "The one beside the balcony?" Greg asked.

            "Yep. I like the view and I'll be further away. That way if I'm up late, it won't bother the rest of you," Matt predicted.

            "That would also put Jessie in the room closest to the family room, which might be better for her," Greg commented. "If that is your choice, that is fine with me."

            Matt grinned. "Thanks," he said.

            Greg smiled. "Shall we explore the top?"

            "Okay," Zack said and once again, he led the way.

            There was a fuller set of stairs leading up to the living room which was the highest room in the house, but it wasn't far. When they got there, Greg showed Matt not only the view, but the matching staircase on the other side.

            "Hey Greg! We have a front door!" Zackary exclaimed as they examined the entry on that level too.

            He climbed the final set of three steps which made the floor of the entryway roughly level with the top of the valley, though as of yet there was still a gap between what would be the entrance to the house and the hill itself. The opening for what would eventually be the front door was barred, but it was there. Windows were in every place in the house, and the walls were all wrapped making it feel more closed in than before. On this level, the beginnings of the ceiling joists and the line for the roof were beginning to take shape. Then they turned around and looked through the a set of floor to ceiling windows making up living room's western wall, opposite the entry.