A simmer pot bubbled on the stove, filling the air with a cleansing citrus smell while Madelyn scrubbed down the kitchen sink. Above her hung rows of drying herbs and cluttered along her countertops were jars of various spices, herbs, and freshly canned vegetables she had grown in the garden. On the table was a large ornate vase filled with cut wildflowers which had been grown in the front yard, much to the neighbor’s dismay. 

After rinsing the sink, Madelyn picked up her rings from the window sill and put them back on one by one, delicate silver bands, chunky wire-wrapped stones, and ornate vintage costume pieces with cut glass in place of gems. A gray tuxedo cat sauntered into the room and meowed petulantly in front of the empty food bowl only to be scolded that she had already been fed and would have to wait until dinner time before she got more. Sulking, the cat retreated to the living room where she nestled in her spot between the snake plant and the monstera, deciding to take a nap instead. 

Picking up her cup of tea from the counter, Madelyn walked over to the front door and out onto her porch. Wind chimes and warding signs were hung up in the warm sunshine of the autumn afternoon. A suncatcher glinted and sparkled, throwing spots of color across the bright blue door that she had come through. In the corner of the porch was a rocking chair she had painted and sewn a cushion for herself. Next to it was a little wooden table she had found at a local thrift store. 

Sitting down her cup, Madelyn, headed down the steps and onto the walkway of stepping stones that meandered through her front yard. A waist high picket fence enclosed the little yard that was starting to fade from vibrant summer greens to the warm ochres of fall. A few fall flowers still bloomed but most of the plants were dying back to prepare for their winter hibernation. Leaves crunched underneath her feet, and she made a mental note to bring her broom down later to sweep them off the path. 

At the end of the path, where the little gate swung out onto the concrete sidewalk, was her mailbox, painted bright blue to match her front door and the numbers stenciled neatly on the side. Inside, she found a neat stack of mail, credit card offers, a bank statement, and a flyer for a new local pizza shop that had recently opened. Additionally, there was a letter from the city. 

With a quizzical eyebrow raised, Madelyn opened and read the official letter as she wandered back up to her front porch. It was a notice, of course, asking her to take down the “disturbing imagery” that had been hung up around her home as the “Halloween season” was over and the city had received “numerous” complaints about the “decor.” Madelyn chuckled to herself, knowing full well it was her uptight good-Christian neighbor Mrs. Finely who had sent the complaints, as she did every month about her pagan neighbor.