The Hall

The Hall

It was only a shade of its former glory, currently devoid of the furniture, decorations, or people who came to the conduct business of the town. Most of the lights were out and the windows covered in a film of white plastic, giving an eerie feeling inside. Walls had been marked for demolition, holes made in the suspended ceiling where the survey crew needed to sample and assess the silent hazards that lay within. The only remnants to speak of the days gone by were the sole stained-glass window in the south wall and the raised dais with the semicircular table along the east wall. The carpet’s many dark stains were covered by two layers of drop cloths and the air duct vents deposited years of dirt and dust on the nearby ceiling tiles. A crew had started the preparations for hazardous materials removal so the demolitions crew could come through after and knock the whole thing down to the ground. At the moment though, a young man sat at the sturdy table, toiling away at his paperwork, occasionally taking a look away from the notes and forms in front of him to gaze wistfully around the room. This room had seen its fair share of good days and bad days. It had a history that very few of its age had ever seen. In the twenty years since it was built, it watched the nearby rural town explode with life, with folks moving in from the urban sprawl not far enough away. It had played hosts to many heated arguments and countless heartfelt pleas from concerned citizens. It also saw the town grow too big to be accommodated within its walls. The young man was not sad as it learned its fate, he likened its future as one would a caterpillar. The construction fence going up was the cocoon that would provide it shelter as it grew into something more beautiful. Or better yet, it would be like a phoenix, borne of its ashes to grow into a thing of beauty again. Yes, the old town council hall looked forward to its future and the life it would live again. Its beauty will most surely serve as a meeting place for many future generations. ~~fin~~ Thanks for visiting and Keep Coming Back!!!]]>