The First Thing I Ever Remember

Some memories fade, but a few stick like splinters — sharp, clear, and unforgettable. This one’s been with me since I was just a little thing, not even old enough to remember anything… except I do.

What adult remembers things from when they were 2 years old?
I do.

It’s a brief memory — just a blip in all the 61 years I’ve been on this planet. But it’s real. And it’s tied to a smokehouse.

My grandma (Dad’s mom) lived on a dirt road in a little four-room house. She had what we called back then a smokehouse. It seemed bigger than her house and was painted a forest green color. I remember it had lots of windows and was just one big open room.

Mommy, Dad, myself, and my brother next to me lived in that smokehouse for a short time. My brother was still in a baby bed — it sat next to a window — and I remember him catching flies with his chubby little fingers. He was fast at it, too!

I slept with my parents in a big bed in the middle of the room. One night, I wouldn’t go to sleep, and Dad told me if I didn’t, a monster was going to come and take me away. I was scared!
And then… I heard scratching at the back of the headboard.
By golly, I went to sleep real quick!

The next morning, I woke up and saw claw marks on the back of that headboard. For real.

As I got a little older, I remember sometimes playing in that old smokehouse. It’s all gone now — Grandma’s house, the smokehouse — all replaced with a big fancy house that somebody else lives in.

I spent a lot of summers there with my grandma. Probably a few weeks every year.

I never heard any more monsters after that night.
And I still have no idea how those claw marks ended up on that headboard…

…unless a monster really did come for me after all.

Funny how places can disappear, but pieces of them still live in your head. The house is gone, the smokehouse too — but I can still see that green paint, that baby bed by the window… and those claw marks I still can’t explain. 🛏️👀

🪑 Want to peek around the porch a bit more?
👉 Visit Home
👉 Check out Monthly Porch Picks
👉 Read more Porch Stories
👉 Sign up for Porch Mail

Like what you’re reading? You can support these porch stories here:

If you liked this one, you might wanna catch the next. Drop your email to get it.