Monday, September 18, 2017

a million to one

one in a million




Betty felt as if she was ready for a new day. Even if she didn't get a bit of sleep. She'd stayed with her daughter Brit, all night at the hospital..just to welcome a big baby girl into the world.

She thought it was going to be a boy. They said all along it was going to be a boy. Even Carson looked shocked.

But the baby was beautiful, with hardly any hair and big blue eyes. Yes, she looked like Brit's father's people.

Betty hadn't associated with them in several decades. Besides, they'd always hated Betty. She had no intention of calling Brit's grandmother to give her the news. Betty had lost that phone number, a long ago.

This was no time to be bitter. She was so happy. She needed to stay happy, but first she needed to go to the grocery store. As it was, she'd left the paint out in the room that she was working on (Brick's room). There would be work to do, but it could wait.

As she walked toward the grocery store, she thought she knew that guy in the parking lot. She had to take a double take. Wasn't that a friend of Carmen's?

A lump lodged in her throat then. She got a little misty eyed, wishing Carmen was here. She shook the thought. No negativity was going to touch her, today.

She grabbed a grocery cart and went for the necessities, but was soon sidetracked by the cherries. They were still around, but not on sale. They wanted almost five bucks a bag for these. She winced hard, but grabbed them, anyway.

"Aw, the price must have went up because of the hurricane." A voice spoke her thoughts. She looked over her shoulder.

Well, she guessed it wasn't Omaha, after all, but the guy made her think of him. Maybe he was a little older, but not by much.

"Yes, its been an awful year." She agreed. That's when he told her he'd been in the flooding. Everything wiped out. She listened to his sad story. "That's..just..so.." She pressed her lips tight. Next thing she knew she was buying him a sausage and biscuit and a cup of coffee in the dine in area of the grocery store.

It was almost like a blind date, but not really. She didn't even know his name. Just that it was a struggle. Things were a struggle now.

"I paint for a living." He told her.

"Really?" A smile emerged. "I think I have a job for you." Betty wanted to help him out.

He smiled and told her his name was Ed.

Betty smiled as if this was the right decision. Ed was coming home with her.

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