Safe as Houses

Home looks like the wagging tail of my dog, Loki, greeting me at the door with happy eyes. It looks like the glow of the TV in the living room, the messy comfort of my bedroom, and the familiar faces of my family gathering in the kitchen. Home sounds like a mix of peace and chaos. Sometimes, it is calm and quiet, the silence of a long afternoon. But mostly, it sounds like my sister, screaming at the top of her lungs, shattering the quiet and reminding us she is there. Home tastes like comfort food on a plate. It is the buttery fluffiness of my Mom’s scrambled eggs on a slow Saturday morning. And of course, the rich tomato sauce of my Dad’s spaghetti at night. Home feels like a safe place to land. It feels like sinking into the relaxing couch after school, and curling up in my soft bed under warm covers. It feels like running my hand through Loki’s thick, soft fur when he sits beside me. Home smells like a life being lived. It smells like Loki’s fresh hair after a bath, the savory scent of breakfast eggs in the pan, and the golden, crispy smell of chicken nuggets cooking in the oven for dinner.