Morning all. It is a stuffy putty morning as the rag weed is high and the really nice temperatures yesterday called me outside far more than I have been in a while. So sinus pills deployed and off we go. Timers in motion and words aimed at the blank page.
I kind of like this one. I think I have danced around this one before but I think I like how this set up works more than I like the others. I just might have to continue.
Tuesday, September 19th: The papers were in disarray.
The papers were in disarray. It seemed so strange considering how neat and orderly Charles was. He could never stand a mess on his desk.
‘But Charles isn’t here anymore,’ Dana thought. She kept her face passive as she continued past the home office. She knew what the disarray was about. Anthony was searching. ‘Marla too probably.’ Dana thought. ‘Although she is probably upstairs in the bedrooms.’
Jewelry rather than paperwork would be more her style. Not that Dana didn’t know what they were looking for or why they were searching so diligently. She made her way down to the kitchen, and fixed herself a cup of coffee before settling at the kitchen table.
Her siblings were still asleep but she had no doubt that once they were awake, they would continue their search for valuables and for copies of the will. That was what it boiled down to, money. Both had debts, both oddly enough from gambling although different forms. Anthony preferred the on-line sort that advertised itself as a game instead of gambling and Marla loved the riverboat casinos. Somehow she thought they were classier than the on line ones and therefore an acceptable past time.
Anthony wanted to know how much he got in the will and hoped that it would alleviate some of his massive debt and Marla was searching for anything small and portable that be sold quickly so that she could pay off hers.
Neither asked after Dana. As she stirred the cream and sugar into her coffee, Dana wondered if they even remembered she was in the house.
Against all odds, Dana secured an impressive college scholarship to let her go to school. Even with the scholarship there was no money to live. She could scrape by with a part time job but it would be bleak. Luckily their grandfather, Charles lived well within a commutable distance to the university and wa happy to spare her the need for rent in exchange for a few chores.
Dana still needed the part time work while going to school, but it was less bleak than it could have been. She lived with Charles during university, taking on the roll of cook and housekeeper for the most part and gradually got to know him. It was actually a rather enlightening experience. After a life time of feeling like the odd one out where her family was concerned it was a pleasure to met someone in the family she actually shared a connection to. They were similar enough to get along and to each know when they needed their own space. With Charles, Dana actually felt like she belonged in the family.
After graduation, she got a job nearby. She was able to move out on her own but visited every Sunday. As his health started to deteriorate, she made daily visits as well as the Sunday one and they talked of either her moving back in with him, or him with her, debating which would be easier for him.
Ten til Midnight 