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[moldy]

This is a story that I posted about 1 1/2 years ago on another board. I thought you might enjoy it.

Everyday Survival - Chapter 1

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This story is my first since Creative Writing in HS, so please be kind. It is not a story about disease, or JBTs breaking down doors, or nuclear war. It is more about why I prep: because life happens and change is one of the only constants. Plus- I was once told, "Write what you know."

Melinda took a deep breath and signed her name on the last blank labeled "petitioner". She smile sadly as she noticed the date: today was their nineteenth anniversary and she was filing for divorce. She quickly reviewed the documents, then handed them to the secretary and stepped out into the autumn sunshine.
Driving home from the lawyer's office, Melinda reviewed, again, her obligations listed in the divorce agreement: she kept the house (and would be responsible for both mortgages), her eight-year-old paid-for van, and half the credit card debt. Jason would keep his new truck (and the payments) and the other half of the Mastercard bill. Both kept their own retirement accounts and would split the equity on the house when it was sold.. Melinda would get primary custody of their four children.
The next few days were awkward and painful for Melinda and Jason. Jason's only complaint was the amount of child support.
"I can't afford $1800 a month! Are you crazy?!"
"I didn't determine the amount, Jason - the state did. Can you manage $1200? That would cover the primary mortgage." Jason agreed and grudgingly kept the children on his insurance as well. Melinda had tried to "fix" their marriage for years and when the time came, she just knew it was over. She relied greatly on her Saviour and the blessings He had provided. When the path she needed to take had become clear, Melinda took several steps. She spoke with her boss to increase her hours working and the flexibility in her schedule and she spoke at length with her family. Borrowing money for her attorney was humbling, but Melinda's parents asked no questions.


That fall, Melinda prayed and read her Bible daily. She often had felt she was born fifty years too late. Unashamedly old-fashioned, the divorce was difficult for her to accept as necessary; yet she knew it was the right thing. Determined not to meditate on negative things, one day she listed her blessings:
- Her budget was tight, but all bills were paid on time and she could tithe without needing Jason's approval.
- She was gradually paying down the creidt card debt after transferring it to a zero-interst account.
- There was $1000 in her savings for Murphy moments. After reading Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover", she could see the wisdom of this first "baby step."
- Her children were healthy.
- Melinda had a well-paying steady job (the same one for the last 20 years). Her schedule also allowed her to attend her son's football games which she really enjoyed.
- Her church family was loving and supportive. Some churches Melinda had visited were good at preaching grace, but very poor at practicing it.
- Tom was back. Tom had been like a brother to her in high school but over the years they had lost touch. Yet when he showed up on her doorstep in June, he seemed completely unchanged. Two weeks later, he had shipped out to Iraq, but they emailed each other a couple times a month. Honest to the point of being brutal, Tom gave Melinda advice that sometimes she didnt' like, but usually he was right.
- Her pantry and freezer were full. There is just a feeling of comfort and satisfaction when looking at mason jars full and gleaming on pantry shelves. The Chapmans had given her eight bushels of peaches in the summer which were canned in juice, pie filling, or as pickles. Apple pie filling, apple butter, and applesauce were made from u-pick apples bought at 30c a pound. Chicken leg quarters, bought on sale, were made into chicken soup for the flu season later. There was 150 pounds of cleaned hard winter wheat (untreated) stored in the basement. It had been bought at the Co-op in El Reno during the last trip to Oklahoma City. Seventy-five gallons of water, treated with bleach per directions in "Dare to Prepare" by Stan Deyo, stood in the basement as well. The water was stored in cleaned syrup barrels from the local Coca-cola bottling plant. Melinda had gotten them free just by asking. There was even a little firewood left over from last winter.
- The rest of her family was healthy and lived close by.
- Surfing the internet had shown her that there were a lot of like-minded people out there. Homesteading today's site was great, as was Frugal squirrels. There was so much to learn, even just by "lurking".

Everyday Survival - chapter 2

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The divorce was final just before Christmas. It was as amicable as could be expected under the circumstances. Jason had moved out, taking the living room furniture, table and chairs, household items, and thier bed. Melinda had taken the children to a town about an hour away while Jason moved.
"I think it's better for them not to see," she explained to him. "Take whatever you feel you need. All I ask you leave is the kids' things and my grandmother's sideboard."
The daytrip had taken them to a bulk food store Melinda had discovered through a co-worker. She picked up spices, oatmeal, Clear-Jel, tea, and jerky. Their trip also stopped at a meatlocker where Melinda noticed the prices were considerably cheaper than the local locker she had used. She carefully wrote down the prices in a notebook she always carried with her. The notebook was worth its weight in gold to her. It allowed her to compare prices when the weekly sales fliers came out with prices as places such as Aldi or other stores that did not feature sales. As she left the little store, she picked up a free real estate listing. While she didn't think she would move to that county, it was always good to be able to compare prices in any venue.
On page three of the divorce agreement was an item that Melinda was slightly concerned about: the family home was to be sold no later than September of 2008. Ally would have graduated then, and Junior would be in his senior year. It was doable, but Melinda felt uneasy. While their home sat on over an acre with an area for a garden and chickens, the mortgages were beyond her ability to pay without child support. The domestic situation was not improving, houses were staying on the market longer, and Jason's expectations of what the house could sell for were (in her opinion) unrealistic. Melinda sighed. Some things are not worth wasting your time worrying about, she decided. God is in control, and I am not. I will only worry about the few things I can control. She smiled at the very tiny amount of things that was.

Melinda's dad was a garage sale junkie. Since his stroke, Melinda or her mother drove him every Thursday during good weather to sales listed in the paper. Going to their house, Melinda smiled and said, "Would you like my shopping list?"
Her dad smiled. He knew how much Melinda had relaxed since she had filed for divorce. She felt like the weight of the world had come off her shoulders.
"Sure, honey, whatcha need?"
From the garage and basement, came a sofa and loveseat with a coffee table, a table and chairs for the dining area, and a twin size bed. Melinda giggled.
"I guess that bed will solve another problem, Dad. Grace won't be able to come in and crawl in bed with me in the middle of the night - the bed's too small for both of us!"

Melinda had always been frugal, more as a hobby - but now, it was a necessity. She had warned the children Christmas might be sparse, but starting shopping early helped enormously. Surfing her favorite websites, Melinda sent off for as many freebies as possible. None of them were large, but the samples of gum, jerky, lotion, and little toys were put back for the kids' stockings. She also sent for calendars for each child: Coca-cola for Ally, Corvettes for Junior, horses for Lizzie, and flowers for Grace. The teens, Ally and Junior, were given $50 each. Lizzie and Grace had both asked for new sleeping bags and some toys. Melinda visited the Coleman outlet and found bags good for -15* for $30 each. Lizzie also received several CDs. Grace had wanted an American Girl doll, but the $89 price tag was much greater than Melinda could afford. Surfing the net again, she visited several websites for alternative ideas (frugalvillage.com, mommysavers.com). Other posters advised that Target carried a nice knock-off for about $20.
Christmas was a favorite time of year for Melinda. The house smelled of sweets, as Melinda made all their favorites: sugar cookies, rainbow cookies, raspberry thumbprints, fudge, and many others. This year, she used out of her pantry as much as possible. Food prices were slowly increasing. The price of gas was also slowly increasing. This year, there would be mulberry thumbprints, she decided. No need to let the kids in on her secrets. She made a special tin of fudge to send to Tom. Inside a metal tin lined with wax paper, she layered fudge, nuts that had been soaked for two weeks in Jack Daniels, and more fudge. She'd only made this once before - when Tom was in Okinawa right after high school. Tom's package was quite heavy, but the local postmaster had shown Melinda the flat rate boxes the USPS offered. What would have cost over $20 to mail only cost $8.10.

During Christmas break, Melinda surveyed her closet. Most of her clothes were in decent shape, but some on longer fit and were dated-looking. Mom and Dad had given her some cash with the direction to spend it on herself. Melinda looked over the ads in the paper and decided to go to her favorite store.
"Junior, I need for you to go shopping with me." Melinda called.
"Oh, no -- Mooommmm! Do I have to?"
"Yes, you do," Melinda smiled. The AMVETS thrift store was next door to the rescue mission downtown. Melinda also know a lot of mintally ill people were housed in the high-rise apartments nearby, and she felt safer with Junior with her. He was only 15, but at 5'10" and 165 pounds, he was bigger than Melinda.
"If any of my friends see me, you know I WILL have to kill you," Junior muttered.
"We'll go by Nifty Nuthouse when we are done." Junior brightened at the idea of hitting the bulk candy store. While their prices were a little high on some items, Melinda planned on getting some things from the reduced rack. If she could hide them long enough, Kisses could be divided: silver for New years, red for Valentines, and green for St. Patty's day. Their selection of dried fruits was very nice as well and would go into granola bars.

AMVETS had a better selection than most of the Gododwill store in town. Melinda supposed it was because AMVETS made donating much easier by sending out bright pink bags in the mail. On a designated day, the AMVETS truck would drive certain neighborhoods and pick up filled pink bags at the curb, leaving a receipt on the door. It required very little effort to donate, and Melinda knew some people would rather throw items away than drive to a donation center.
The offerings were very nice at this time of year. People were starting to think about the end of the year and taxes and donations were pouring in. She found several dresses,Eddie Bauer, Talbotts, Liz Clairborne, and a couple shirts. Jeans were the most difficult to find, but with the savings on other items, Melinda could afford to go to Kohls or Penneys for jeans. She also picked up some men's flannel shirts and some flannel baby clothes.
"Why'd you get those, Mom?" Junior asked.
" Fabric is expensive, son," Melinda replied. "These shirts and baby gowns have plenty of good material left that I can use - and they're only 99c each." Melinda was making a quilt for Junior using denim from old jeans and flannel. It was simple and did not require quilting or batting.

After stopping at Nifty Nuthouse, Melinda went to the local grocery. It was not a store she frequently shopped at, but today it was on their route and the sale was great. This was the only store that doubled coupons to $1, so Melinda stocked up on whatever she had coupons for along with Bear Creek soup mixes. Most of them only needed water (chili requires some tomato paste), and the soups were very tasty. They were also much cheaper than things from Mountain House.
As she and Junior left the store, Melinda could see the thickening clouds in the west. She turned on the radio in her van to the best local weather, only to catch the end of the broadcast. It was enough for her to realize there was a large ice storm headed their way. She prayed, thanking God that she had the next few days off.


Everyday Survival - Chapter 3

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As Melinda drove home, Junior dialed her parents' number on the cell phone.
"Tell them there's a nasty storm coming in and ask if they need anything from town, please."
"Granny said they're OK," Junior said as he hung up.
"Good. When we get home, I'd like for you to bring up a big bunch of firewood into the garage, OK?" Melinda instructed. "I'm a little worried we could lose power."
"Will Granny and Pops be OK?" Junior loved his grandparents and worried about them, especially after his grandfather's storke.
"I'm sure they'll be fine. You forget that they grew up during the Depression. Remember Granny's pantry? They've also got a big fireplace." Junior didn't look convinced. "We'll go get them and bring them to our house if we need to."
It was starting to mist by the time they pulled into the driveway. Junior started moving firewood as Melinda unloaded the groceries and her "new" clothes. The girls pitched in to help put groceries away while Melinda started some laundry. Once a load finished in the washer, she hung what she could on hangers then on the shower rods to dry. Smaller items and towels went on drying racks.The moisture from the laundry made the air in the house seem warmer, allowing Melinda to set the heat lower. She was so grateful for the programmable thermostat they had installed when the house was built.

Throughout the evening the rain fell harder and the temperaures dropped. The 10 pm news reported roads were icy and that there had been many accidents. Snow was predicted, eight to ten inches in their area, starting around 2 am. Just as the announcer started the sports scores, the TV shut off and the lights went out.
"OK, kiddos - we've got some chores to do before bed." Melinda announced. After getting a flashlight, Ally helped the younger girls dress in sweats, socks and slippers.
"Please don't forget hats, Ally. Most of a body's heat is lost thru the head," Melinda reminded her.
Junior started a fire in the fireplace while Melinda heated water in the tea kettle and laid sleeping bags out in the living room. Her gas stove still worked, just had to be lit with a match. Cups of hot chocolate warmed everyone before they brushed their teeth and crawled into their sleeping bags.
As Melinda drifted off to sleep, there was the sound of a gunshot; then another further in the distance.Checking out the back door, she saw several large branches were lying on the ground. She watched as another broke and fell from the ice accumulated on it, cracking loudly just like the " gunnshots" she had just heard. Soothing the younger kids, she put them back to bed and stirred the fire.
The electricity stayed off for two days. It was a wonderful two days. The hot water heater was gas also, so there were still hot showers. Meals were cooked on the stove: French toast, bacon and eggs, grilled cheese, bacon cheeseburger rice - Melinda fixed all their favorites, including some chocolate no-bake cookies. They were able to listen to the radio using the hand crank one that had been a present from Melinda's brother. Melinda was pleased to hear the county would be picking up all the broken limbs if they were taken to the curb. The family passed the time reading, playing cards and games, and shoveling snow.

January and February passed quickly with Melinda's family settling into a routine of school, church, and the kids' visitations with Jason. Melinda filed her taxes in early February as had always been her habit. As in the past, there was a nice-size refund that Melinda applied to the Mastercard debt. Money was tight, but there was enough for an occassional dinner out and to pay for the kids' summer camps. Melinda felt very blessed that there were only a few colds among the family. Most were treated with a dose or two of grapefruit seed extract or tonic and did not require a doctor visit.
There was an uneasy feeling that Melinda could not shake, though. At first she had thought it was due to her mental diet of news and computer use that pointed constantly to TEOTWAWKI. But in the middle of February, she began to hear disturbing rumors about Jason. Melinda's neice worked for Jason's employer as well, and had heard rumors of Jason's increasing absences and questionable behavior. There were suspicions that Jason was reporting to work drunk.
As the March winds and thunderstorms started, Melinda worried that her life was going to have a rainy period as well. She decided to turn off the TV and the computer for a week to help clear her head. She prayed and slowly a plan formed in her mind. It was a little frightening and required for Melinda a big step of faith. The next week, she called Jason.
"Jason, I'm putting the house up for sale."

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Jason seemed shocked by Melinda's decision. " Why do you want to do that now?"
"The divorce agreement only states I have to sell or give you your equity by fall of 2008. It says nothing about when I may choose to sell." Melinda replied. "I have my reasons."
During the next several weeks, Jason alternately pouted and tried to dissuade Melinda from selling the house. She did not budge. Jason had gotten accustomed during their marriage to Melinda backing down to placate his anger. Not this time.
Melinda spent her time off painting and cleaning. The carpet was old and had a few stains. Melinda wet them with cleaning solution, covered them with a white towel, and pressed the stains with a hot iron. As soon as she heard the steam, she lifted the iron. While this technique didn't get rid of all the stains, it faded them quite a bit. She borrowed her sister's steam cleaner and used it throughout he house. Several rooms got new paint, using popular colors that helped to make the house seem newer.
Melinda also began to pack up anying not in use and stored it at her parents. Thinning out belongings produced enough for a garage sale.. She also contacted a realtor. While Melinda knew it would cut into her profit, she didn't want to take any chances with the legality of the sale. She was also pleased when the realtor suggested a sale price that was more than $30,000 higher than she thought.
When she presented the paperwork to Jason, she was not surprised. As soon as he viewed the asking price, he signed off on the sale.


The house was officially for sale the same day the tulips started blooming. Melinda had planted lots of perinneals over the years and the daffodils, hyacinths, and phlox added to the beauty of their front lot. The five fruit trees in the side yard were also in full bloom.
Three days afterwards, Melinda called Jason about his weekly visitation. He seemed subdued, and Melinda knew something was wrong. When questioned, Jason readily confessed.
"I guess I should tell you I was fired."
"What for ?" Melinda wanted to give him a chance to explain.
"They're calling it an 'error in judgemnt.' They actually think I need to go to treatment for alcoholism!" Jason was getting louder. "Can you believe that ****? I've worked there longer then anyone else and this is how they treat me? I told Personnel " ****, no!" Jason calmed slightly. "So I guess you won't be getting child support for while."
"Jason, the house payments are over $1800 a month! How do you suggest I swing that until the house sells?" Melinda's heart was in her throat.
"Well, you could take out a loan on your 401K and pay off the second mortgage. That would take some of the pressure off until I decide to get another job."
Melinda thought about this for about two seconds. Did he really think she was that foolish? She was having some decidedly unChristian thoughts.
" Why would I want to do that? The only person that benefits is you, Jason. When the house is sold, I will still be paying off the loan. I really doubt you'd be willing to give me half of the balance left."
Jason mutter something, then made an excuse and hung up.
" Great." Melinda thought as her phone rang again.
"Melinda, I need you to come over right away." Her mother's voice had that tone Melinda knew not to ignore. "Your dad is having chest pain. He's really clammy and pale and he almost passed out on me."
"Call an ambulance, Mom!"
"I would, but he doesn't want me to. The man is as stubborn as you! Please come and talk to him."

Melinda's dad smiled as she entered his bedroom. His color was slightly better than copier paper. "Dad, why don't you want to go to the hospital?"
"I'm an old man, honey. I just don't want people beating on my chest. And besides, it's too expensive."
Melinda knew this was more than a one-woman job, so she quickly phoned her sister. Brenda could persuade her dad more easily - she had always been able to do so. Between the two of them and her mother, her dad was cajoled in to at least going to the emergency room. He told the nurse on duty something about there being 'too many women fussing over him.'
Within several days, Dad was back at home. New medications had been started and he was feeling much better. Melinda's parents were comfortable, but lived frugally also. Dad had gotten enough samples of his new meds to get him thru the next few weeks until his regular prescriptions could be shipped from Canada. Her parents usually saved over fifty percent ordering them this way.


Melinda felt blessed that Tom called her every few weeks. It was good to hear his voice and to know he was OK. The media she knew was quite biased, but the daily body count and bombing details from Iraq weighed on her mind. She prayed for Tom's safety daily. She did not want to vent on the kids (they did not need to know details of the divorce or her grave concerns over money) or her family (who was still concerned over her and the health of her parents). Friends were tied up in their own lives, and it seemed for everyone money did not go far enough anymore. She tried not to burden Tom with her problems, either, but it was so nice to have a proverbial shoulder to cry on.

The girls had just returned from Jason's when Melinda got a more complete picture of how things were going to be. "Mom, did you know Daddy doesn't have a job?" Grace asked.
"Yes." Melinda decided it was best to keep her answers short.
"He says he's going to take a couple months off." Grace skipped down the hall to her bedroom.
"That's nice." Melinda turned to stir the casserole on the stove and began to cry and pray.

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The pity party didn't last long. Even when Melinda was little, crying wasn't encouraged in her house. It rarely solved any problems and wasted precious time better spent doing other activities.
That night as the family ate dinner, Meinda explained some necessary changes." Money is going to be even tighter now, " she began. "Your dad lost his job and won't be able to help us out like he has been. So we really need to think of ways to save every penny we can."
" Do we have to get rid of cable, Mom?" Junior asked sadly.
"Probably we will get rid of the house phone, cable, and computer service once school is out." Melinda wasn't happy about this either as she really enjoyed the time she spent at the keyboard. "I would rather keep the cell phones than the land line. I'd also like to try to keep the AC off until we sell the house."
By the end of dinner, the family had come up with lots of ideas:
- consolidate trips to save gas
- all laundry dried on the clothesline or drying racks
- meals planned using what was in the pantry or freezer as much as possible.
- Melinda would sign up for as many extra hours during the summer as possible.
- Ally would work full-time hours at her job. The money she saved would go toward a car for her.
-Junior planned on earinng money by mowing lawns and doing yardwork.
- Melinda decided to see if any of her acquaintances would be interested in a class in canning/prepping. She also would plant her garden, even with the house on the market. It would look pretty and the extra produce would cut down on the grocery bill
- laundry soap would be made, as well as bath soap.. Melinda had done this in the past, but it was time-consuming and she had traded convenience for price. She re-batched some lye soap made in the fall into golden cornmeal soap. It wa slightly abrasive and even the older kids liked it (or at least didn't complain too loudly). Vinegar was used instead of fabric softener.
- Junior helped Melinda clean out the large chest freezer as it was already almost empty.. She carefully packed what she could in the freezer portion of the refrigerator. After the chest freezer was emptied and cleaned, Melinda unplugged it and let the interior dry thoroughly. She taped it shut to remind the kids not to put anything in it.
- Melinda made yogurt in a quart jar in the garage. She had gotten the idea from hillbillyhousewife.com and it worked very well.
- Soft drinks were now only for special occasions. Melinda missed her diet Dr. Pepper horribly, but found she could drink iced tea just as easily. It was a healthier choice,too. Herbal tea bags helped to provide variety without sugar.
- slushies and popcorn were frequent snacks. Kool-aid and popcorn were cheap at Aldi and it was a fun treat for the kids.
- Vinegar also was used for a shower cleaner. Melinda refilled the original bottle to take advantage of the spray trigger.
- Melinda had always been fairly organized, so it was easy for her to track when her van needed servicing She knew maintainence of her only vehicle was a must as she could not afford another.
- Placing the children on her insurance was another $350 a month, but something she couldn't justify doing without. The family had not choice but to personify the Amish saying: Use it up, wear it out. Make it do or do without.


God watched over and blessed Melinda: the house sold in less than a month. The sellers had a long list of demands, but Melinda and Jason dropped the price instead. Fixing or replacing items cost money that they just didn't have.
Closing was done two days after school ended for the year. Jason had called her the night before and stated he could not pay any of his back child support from his portion of the profits. "I took a 401K loan to pay off my truck. If I don't pay it back, I'll take a huge hit on my taxes next April." Jason had made a minimal effort to find another job.. His occupation had limited opportunities, and all the employers in their hometown talked to each other frequently.
Speaking with her attorney, Melinda also discovered that the state would not go after Jaon's retirement until what he owed was more than $25,000. Until then, "Well, you can't get blood from a turnip," her lawyer sighed. "If he gets unemployment or any other job, though, the court will take out your child support and send it to you."
Melinda and the kids moved in with her parents that weekend. Their house was large enough and they were happy to help. Lizzie, Grace, and Melinda shared a room. Melinda felt it was important for the teens to keep as much privacy as possible. Her only difficulty was the lack of computer access. While using the internet was not as convenient, it was not all that bad. Melinda checked her email and looked for a new home online at her sister's or the library.
Melinda was not angry or bitter, but she was determined to not rely on anyone else for financial support once she was on her own again. While she lived with her parents the next several months, she saved as much she could, but also paid for groceries and what her parents would allow of the utilities. Her family and Tom gave her suggestions for her new home, but no one pushed.
HUD homes looked to be the best bargin in her area. There were quite a few that had set empty for years.Having sold her house gave Melinda the cash to put a bid on one whe she found the one she liked. The realtor she used for the last home's sale was very willing to help Melinda sort through the information. Melinda made a list of features she wanted and began to do research.



July Fourth was bright and sunny. The family had planned a dinner and watching the fireworks at Melinda's sister's home. Brenda lived ten miles away in Overton, a town of 2500. Melinda had invited Tom along as his family was vacationing in Texas. Tom had gotten stationed in their city until his next deployment.
"Hey,sister!" Brenda called as Melinda stepped out of the van. "Did you bring the ice cream and cobbler?"
"Of course. You remember Tom, right?"
" Sure," Brenda replied. " Have you seen that house south of town? I think its' being offered thru HUD, but I don't know for sure. I'd go look at it with you , but I've got to watch the grand-kids. It's a while before dinner - why don't you go check it out?"
Melinda and Tom followed the dirt road south of Overton to the house Brenda had suggested. The drive was only dirt and the yard was over grown. Dandelion puffballs dotted the front yard between the house and the evergreen hedge that ran parallel to the road. The house was a newer modular home set on a partial basemnt. Peering thru the windows, Melinda counted four bedrooms and a large kitchen. The realtor's sign in the window was sunbleached, as was the certificate for winterization.
The side yards had apple and peach trees, along with several others Melinda could not identify. As the breeze picked up, she could hear the soft moos from the dairy next door. While Melinda didn't mind the smell, she was grateful the dairy was down-wind.
"There's a well and lagoon in the back -and some old clothesline poles," Tom interrupted her thoughts.." I wonder how much they want for it."
"I'll check it out when we get back to Brenda's. It probably depends on how long it's been empty." Melinda had done some of her homework. She knew HUD would pay all taxes, even back taxes owed up to the closing date and that she would get a clean title. But HUD homes are sold "as-is" and would require a very thorough inspection. She could see several outbuildings as well, but was unsure of the property markers.."Tom, could you come check this out with Brenda and me later this week? You know, 'wisdom from many advisors'."
" I suppose; just let me know when."
The storm that rolled in that evening didn't spoil dinner or the fireworks.



Jason had been unable to find a "suitable" job. With the limited number of places locally for employment and his insistance of a salary comparable to his last at termination, he decided to try Colorado. Two days before leaving, he informed Melinda.
"You can fly or drive the kids out when I get settled, " he decreed.
"I'll do that, Jason. Just as soon as I have any extra cash." Jason didn't catch Melinda's sarcasm, but that was OK. "At least I won't have to deal with him twice a week," Melinda thought.
The house in Overton was checking out better than Melinda had anticipated. The county's appraisal value on the improved property was $98,500, but HUD had an asking price of $72,000. The home had set empty since the owners had gone to a nursing home. The same week, Melinda had viewed it with Tom and Brenda. Opening every drawer and cabinet, they inspected it very well. There were two and a half baths with a whirlpool tub in the master bath. A wood-burning stove stood in the family room.
"Why has this not sold?" Melinda asked her realtor.
"I imagine due to the dairy farm, " she replied. "Most people love the lot, but don't like the smell."
Melinda bid $40,000 for the property and within 24 hours, the bid was accepted. She now had thirty days to complete any inspections.
The next two weeks were crazy-busy. All electrical and plumbing systems passed inspection. The home inspector only mentioned some spiders and mouse droppings he had seen. Melinda's insurance agent signed off on the roof and wrote a policy to cover the house, her van, and Ally's new-to-her car.
Melinda requested an early closing of fifteen days after the inspections were complete. She was pleasantly surprised that the HUD agent was agreeable. The property was paid for in cash - and there was enough left over that Melinda was planning to add a garage with some storage.
Melinda called her exterminator. She had used Keith for years. He did a great job, using DE and a chemical that didn't irritate the rabbits or chickens' respiratory systems. For the mice, he suggested etting out shallow bowls of Coca-cola. "Change them often" was all he instructed. Between the Coke and the cat, there was soon no evidence of mice.
Cleaning and repainting again filled all of Melinda's days off. She had enrolled the kids in school in Overton and started two garden plots. There would be no tomatoes this year, but shecould grow cool-weather vegetables, garlic, and plant some flower bulbs.
Sleep comes easy when you are exhausted. When the phone rang at 4 am, it took a while for Melinda to understand what Jason's father was telling her.
""There's been an accident in Colorado."

Everyday Survival - The end

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First, thank you to all of you that took time to read this. I never realized how something so long on paper could be so short when typed out. This chapter is really short, I know - but I'm a sucker for happy endings.

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Jason's father was a hard man and a recovering alcoholic. When Melinda heard the tremor in his voice, she already knew the results of the accident.
Jason had been driving his truck between Denver and Colorado Springs when he crossed the median. The truck was large, but the semi was larger. Melinda would be able to tell the kids truthfully that Jason hadn't suffered.
The funeral was difficult. Everyone who loved Jason was there and most of them couldn't even pretend to like Melinda. Melinda prayed and went anyway to support the kids. Melinda never asked about Jason's estate. If there was any money even left, she knew it would come with strings attatched. It was much easier to live within or below her means.



Melinda stared out the window at the gray November morning. Today would have been Jason's 46th birthday. She grieved not for the loss of who Jason was, but who he could have been. She knew the children felt the same, even if they didn't express it that way. She slid the chocolate-chip banana bread out of the oven. It would be sliced and ready for Tom and Junior to take while deer hunting tomorrow.
She smiled at the simple gold band on her left ring finger. She and Tom had been married in a small ceremony in October. Melinda wondered how Tom would react to her news tonight.
Their chow-mix started barking as an unfamiliar sedan pulled into the lane. A man gingerly stepped from the car, trying in vain to keep from muddying his dress shoes. Melinda met him on the porch.
"Can I help you?'
" Are you Melinda Ross?" the man asked after consulting a small notebook.
"I used to be. What is this about?"
" You were married to the late Jason Ross, who at one time worked for Allied Laboratories?" the man continued.
"Yes."
"Then this is for you. You were named as beneficiary on his retirement account." He handed Melinda an envelope and turned to leave. " My understanding is that he withdrew all the funds from his 401K, but the retirement plan only allows withdrawals six months after the termination of employment. My condolences for your loss."
Melinda sat on the porch swing and slowly opened the envelope. A six-figure check laid inside. She took the check inside and placed it on her desk with the bills. Pulling on workboots, she began to smile.
"Six figures and two pink lines," she thought. "Sounds like a good country song - no, that's already been done." On the way to feed the animals, she began to sing.



The End



If you would like to add comments (please do!), please add them here. I don't think I"ll start a separate thread just for that.

[Virginia]

Good writing. Enjoyed reading very much.

[Lady Yarrow]

Aye, Well written.

[MomM]

Very good! I really enjoyed it. Thank you!

[Stephanie]

I love a happy ending too,

[K_L]

It was a great read. love the ending.

[moldy]

I wrote this when I was going thru a rough time - I suppose it was a cheap form of therapy. Part of it is autobiographical, part is pure fiction. It's amazing though - as much as I thought that ending would be the best possible, God had other (and much better) ideas.

While the current situation in this country is, well, scary - God is good all the time. And I am very, very blessed.

[OINK]

well, I enjoyed immensely! very good!

[ScrubbieLady]

Very good. I enjoyed it immensely.

[Crazy4Canning]

Nice story line. Well done!

[Trip]

I really liked it, It was/ is real life... good job!!
Trip

[FLGardenGirl]

I really enjoyed reading your story..........especially with the added ending!