Junk Truck

Leave it to my family to ruin a perfectly nice Sunday morning.  It's my only day to sleep in now and, after weeks of taking classes on Saturday after a 40 hour work week, I'm exhausted.

I was all nice and warm and comfortable when I was startled awake by a horn honking.  It wasn't just a car beeping at another.  It was a loud, obnoxious honk.  And it didn't stop.  I tried ignoring it, but eventually my phone began to ring repeatedly.  The caller I.D. said Brandon.

What did he want?  The sixth time he called I answered.

"Don't you hear me blowing the horn?"

Leave to my idiot brother to be the rude, obnoxious horn honkerer.  I went to the front window and there parked on the street was a Fletcher's Junk truck.

"Why didn't you call, like, yesterday to tell me you'd be visiting?  I could have had company?"

"No, you wouldn't have.  So are you going to let me in or what?"

I went downstairs and let Brandon in.  He still hadn't explained why he was here.

"You know your house sold, right?"

"Yes, Brandon.  It sold to that creepy guy who lives next door.  At this point, I don't care so long as I get my money."

"Well, you left some stuff at the house.  The guy you were renting to said it was your stuff when he left.  So I decided to bring it to you."

I felt my eyelid begin to twitch.  "What am I going to do with it?"

"It's your stuff.  You can't abandon it there."

"But I left it there for a reason."

"You can't abandon it there.  If you want, I'll leave it on the sidewalk for the homeless people to go through."

"What homeless people?"

"You live in the city.  There's bound to be homeless people."

Brandon turned to go back to the truck.  All of sudden, I had visions of hoards of vagrants hanging out outside my house rummaging through my trash and waiting for me to give them more, more, more.  Frightened, I grabbed Brandon's arm.

"No, stop.  Bring it inside.  Maybe I can tell or give it away or something."

He went outside and I collapsed in the nearest chair.

Moving Day

Today was moving day.  My furniture looks so horrible in this new, nicer home but so long as I never invite anyone here no one will be any the wiser that my furniture is crap.  Well, they might be if they say Brandon delivering it in his business truck.

If anyone was home and watching, they would know.  The Fletcher's Junk truck gave it away.

Of course the day was not perfect.  If it wasn't the truck making me die of embarrassment, it was Brandon looking like a slob.  Really, the new neighbors probably think some hillbilly has moved next door.  How am I going to fit in with these people?

Even the day started out horribly.  Before we even left town, the truck got a flat tire.  Mama came over while Brandon was fixing it and told me it was a clear sign I wasn't meant to leave.

"How could you say that?"

"You shouldn't leave, Fran.  You're meant to be here."

I swallowed hard.  I hoped it was all her being dramatic.  If I'm meant to be stuck in our small town, then that means I'm meant to be stuck in the life I don't like  -- forever.

I'm Moving

"What is it, Fran, that you had to have all us over here?"

"Well." 

I looked around my living room.   I had called my parents and Brandon over to tell them about the townhouse.  I didn't have the heart to tell Granny.  I figured she would hear it from someone and then tell me I'm insane again.  This was hard enough as is without putting myself in that position.

"Well, Dad, I've decided to move."

"Oh, well, you're being so dramatic about it.  What's the big deal?  You probably need something with a little lower maintenance.  There are some newer homes across town you might want to take a look at once you find a realtor."

"Next week.  I'm moving next week.  I already signed a lease on a townhouse in the city."

Mama rolled her eyes.  "Fran, you still own this house.  Don't you think you should have sold it first?"

"I'll sell it.  I'll auction it if I have to, but I'm moving."

"You're going to be paying mortgage and rent at the same time.  This won't be doing your credit or bank account any favors."

"Properties move fast in the city.  If I didn't sign the lease, it would be gone."

"Then you find another one, Fran.  Really, do you have no common sense?"

Dad sat there with his arms folded across his chest while Mama, next to him, seemed very angry at me. Only Brandon said nothing.

We sat there in silence for several minutes.  It was exactly responses like that from Mama that proved why I need to leave here and find my own way.

"Okay," Brandon said, "if you're going to put yourself in financial jeopardy, the least I can do is help you move."

It's a Party -- Part 2

When I awoke I was laying on the couch with a wet washcloth on my forehead.  Everyone was standing around staring at me.  At first, I thought I was dreaming but then I remembered where I was.  It was my 30th birthday party.

Almost immediately, I sat bolt upright and screamed at the top of my lungs.

Mama tried to calm me down, but I had to let my frustration out and nothing anyone did was going to stop it.  When I could finally breath, I looked around the room.  I was so livid, I couldn't even remember who some of the people were.

"Why did you do this to me?  You knew I didn't want a party.  You knew I didn't want to be reminded of my birthday."

Mama said, "Why would I want to forget my youngest child's birthday?"

I climbed up on the back of the couch.  "You've ruined my life.  I'll never be able to show my face around this town again."

"I think you're overreacting."

"Overreacting?  How am I suppose to react when my own mother makes a fool of me?"

"Fran, it took a lot of hard work planning this party."

Granny took Mama's arm and said, "Susanne, leave her alone.  Some people can't be helped."

To me, she said, "You need a shrink."

That was it.  I couldn't take it anymore.  I took my things and I left.  So much for the people who love me.

It's a Party

It finally happened.  I turned 30.  Luckily for me, mom said she wouldn't make a big deal about it because in her mind it's not a big deal, just another birthday, so we would have a small family dinner together the same way we also do.

Mama said to come over to dinner after I got home from work and had changed my clothes.  She told me to wear something nice because she would be taking my picture next to my birthday cake.  It's the same routine she's done for the past 29 years.

So I changed and went over to my parents' house.  Mama was there to greet me on the porch which I thought was a little odd.

"Why are you out here?  Where's Dad?"

"Oh, he's inside taking a nap."

"A nap?  I didn't think Dad took naps."

"Oh, he doesn't usually.  He just had a stressful week.  He'll tell you all about it.  You can go put your purse inside if you want.  Just be quiet."

I nodded and opened the door to the living room.  Mama followed closely behind me.  The room was dark.  I didn't hear any snoring.  The light switched on and the room was full of people.  It was a party.  I saw Dad, Brandon, Polly, Granny, Jessica, Lilly and a number of other people I recognized.

Suddenly, I felt very hot.  The room started to spin.  Everything went black.  I was falling.

 

To be continued .....

Hurts Rent-A Vehicle

Finally, I'm getting my car back.  I don't know what was wrong with it.   I think it was the ignition or the engine or something.  Brandon took care of everything.

It's all been arranged that I can pick my car up at Frank's Garage after work.  The customer service rep at Hurts Rent-A Vehicle said I can leave my rental at the garage they will take care of everything.  I'm so excited.  I'll write more when I'm home.

Later ....

I arrived to pick up my car.  Frank was very nice, although a bit greasy.  He's letting me pay my bill a little bit at a time.

The Hurts Rent-A-Vehicle person was there, too, with his bill.  He handed it to me with a smile and asked what form of payment I wanted to use.

I glanced over the bill and it was enormous, much more than we discussed.

"When I called you Monday morning, you said it would be $10 a day.  This is three times that."

"It was $10 a day, but only if you rented your vehicle before 5 p.m. when the sale price ended and we reverted back to the regular price.  You rented your car at 5:15."

What?  I stared at him and he must have thought I was an idiot.  Was this a bait and switch?  I wanted to report him to the Better Business Bureau.

"I can't afford that.  I have a repair bill to pay plus I had to put gas in your horribly ugly car."

"If you don't pay, I'll report you to the police."

From behind the register, Frank cleared his throat and began walking away.  He probably thought I was about to cause trouble in his store.

The Hurts Rent-A Vehicle guy and I stared each other down.  But finally he won and I pulled out credit card, which was declined.  So were three other cards.

"See, I told you I couldn't afford it.  My cards are all maxed.  It's the price I pay for having a job that pays next to nothing."

Just as I could envision the cops pulling up to take me away, Frank offered to pay what I could not and I could pay him back.  I am very grateful and very broke.

Monday

I got myself up for work on Monday and felt horrible.  In case I haven't mentioned it yet, I hate my job.  I work in the city.  It's a 40 minute drive.  That's actually the best part of it.  I love the city and I don't mind the drive.  It gets me out of here.

But I hate my job.  I work customer service for a satellite-television provider.  They're called SAT TV.  Maybe you've heard of them.  They're a national company.  I'm on the phone all day long listening to unhappy people.

Anyway, I was thinking about all of this as I got into my car, put the key in the ignition, turned the key and then ---- nothing.  I tried several times but each time, nothing. 

I dropped my head down on the steering wheel and would have burst into tears if it weren't for the fact my makeup was fresh.  After several minutes of not knowing what to do, I called my boss and told her I would be late.  She told me I would have to work through my lunch to make up my time.  Fine.

I called Brandon and asked him if he would drive me.  I knew he would be the only one available.  Everyone else was on their way to work or lived too far away.  Brandon lives right here in town, but he owns his own junk business so he can come and go as he pleases.

Brandon showed up with his dog, Rocky.  Rocky is a Mastiff, larger than a house and he slobbers.  A lot.  And, of course, Brandon decided to show up in his work truck, the one that says "Fletcher Junk" on the sides and back. 

I opened the door and grudgingly got in beside Rocky.  Brandon chain smokes so my whole ride to work could be summed up by saying I rode in a cloud of smoke with dog saliva on my arm.

"Do you want me to pick you up, too," Brandon asked.

"No, I can handle it.  I'll just take a cab to the airport and rent a car."

"That's a big waste of time," he said flicking cigarette ashes on my shoes.

"No, it's fine."

"Well, then I'll take your car to mechanic for you."

Finally, we made it to work.  That must have been the longest ride of my life.  I thanked Brandon and gave him my car keys.  I would have given him a hug, I really would have, but it was bad enough I was going to smell like a combination of chimney and dog kibble all day.

Sunday

Like I said this is the worst week ever.  It started on Sunday with my date with Brian Leeds.  Yes, you read that right, a Sunday date.

I met Brian at Bud's Hardware Store a couple of weeks ago.  He said he remembered us going to high school together, although he was in my brother Brandon's class.  I didn't remember him at all.  So maybe he was giving me a line, I don't know, but if he was, I bought it.  I agreed to go out with him.

So why a Sunday date?  He claimed it was because he works a lot and also because he believed first dates should be casual, so we planned to have lunch.  I was thinking we would have lunch at MaryLou's Diner or maybe take a drive into the city and eat at one of those chain restaurants.

Brian is religious so I thought nothing of it when he asked me to attend church with him.  We attended services and afterward I fully expected that we would leave for lunch.

Instead Brian turned to me and said, "Let's go check out the social hall.  My mom is serving coffee today."

Okay, I think he's sweet.  He wants to say hello to his mother.  But when we got downstairs, it wasn't just coffee and donuts.  It was a full blown lunch.  We weren't going anywhere.  We were having lunch right there.

I looked around as realization hit me.  He was too cheap to buy me lunch so he brought me somewhere where the lunch is free.  I felt my cheeks growing hot.  I couldn't believe it.  Why wasn't he honest with me to begin with?  If he told me we were having lunch here, it might not have been so bad?  Had I misunderstood?  Was I supposed to know this was where we were going when he suggested I come to services with him?

Just as I wondered "why me?" something happened.  The curtain on the far wall pulled back and a Sunday-school play started.

I leaned over and whispered in Brian's ear, "Do you know any of those kids?"

He shook his head no.  Really, Brian, free lunch and entertainment.  No wonder you're still single.

I've heard it said all the good ones are either taken or gay.  But really, it's not that all the good ones are taken.  It's that all the single ones are single for a reason.