as he can find some way to get on the Internet. Liz will be going to school pretty soon, so she ain’t really gonna care one way or the other.”
“What about Mom?”
“Now, that could be another story.”
Dave pulled up to the house. Cat said, “I hope it doesn’t take Mom long to fix supper.”
“The faster you get these groceries in the house, the faster Mom can get supper ready.”
“We’re home,” yelled Cat as she brought the groceries into the house.
Ben said, “Should have known you would show up when the work was done.”
Cat ignored him.
Betty had the kitchen stuff pretty much put away. Ben and Liz had moved everything to the rooms where they needed to be. Cat put the perishables in the refrigerator. The rest she put on the table.
While Betty fixed supper, Cat went outside to see what was in the area. Dave had inherited forty acres. Cat didn’t know just how much that was. All she knew was that it was the biggest backyard she ever had. Three hundred yards from the house was a nice stream. This was Cat’s dream come true. The area was filled with wild game, squirrels, rabbits, and deer.
“What a place! I can hunt, fish, camp, and trap within walking distance of the house.” She thought she had died and gone to heaven.
“Cat,” yelled Dad, “supper is ready.”
“Coming,” Cat answered as she walked back toward the house, passing the two car garage and a small barn.
“Where have you been?” Betty asked.
“Exploring!”
“Find anything?”
“You bet! There is a stream not too far from the house. I am going to get my fishing pole and catch tomorrow night’s supper. You would not believe the wild game I saw. We won’t go hungry!”
Great! Cat was serious about living off the land! Betty thought as they sat down to eat supper.
Dave said, “Greg told me that he could use some help at the station part-time a couple days a week. I told him that would be great. At least that will give us a little income till I find something better.”
Betty replied, “I might as well give this a try. I’ve gone this far. I saw a ‘Help Wanted’ sign in the window at the diner. I’ll stop in there the next time I am in town.”
“That would be great.”
“I have to go to town pretty soon anyway to register the kids for school.”
“That’s right, it is that time of the year.”
“Uh, yeah, I am sure school starts here around the same time as it did in New York.”
The family finished supper. Dave went out on the porch, sat down on the bench, and lit a cigar to enjoy the quiet evening. Ben and Liz cleared the table then went to their rooms. Cat went to the kitchen to help her mom with the dishes.
“Thanks,” Mom said.
“No problem,” replied Cat.
“Something on your mind?”
“Not really.”
“Okay, what’s on your mind?”
“Oh, Mom, it’s just that I am so excited that we moved down here, and I didn’t really think about how the rest of the family felt.”
“I can honestly say that I am not as thrilled as you are, but who knows? It might grow on me.”
Cat smiled. “I hope it does, because I don’t want to move back to the city.”
“We couldn’t afford it now anyway. Thanks for helping with the dishes.”
“You’re welcome.”
“You better get to bed. Your sheets and blankets are by the closet. Good night.”
Cat kissed her mom. “Good night, love you.”
Cat went to the door, opened it, and said, “Good night, Dad.”
“Good night, honey, sweet dreams.”
The next morning Cat ran into the kitchen and said, “Morning, Mom. That sure smells good.”
“I thought bacon would bring you running. Do I have to ask if you want eggs?”
“No, you don’t have to ask. Is the coffee done?”
“Yeah, the second pot, your dad finished off the first one.”
“Great! I’ll grab a cup and talk to Dad on the porch till breakfast is ready.”
“Okay, I want you to help me with the dishes when we’re done. Ben and Liz are going to town with Dad.”
“Oh, all right.”
After breakfast Dave and the two older children went into town to buy what they would need for the rest of the week. Dave also wanted to price freezers. For as much opportunity that Cat would have to hunt and fish, they would definitely need one.
As Betty and Cat finished up the dishes, Betty asked, “Help me arrange the stuff in the house.”
Cat smiled and laughed a little. “Would this be considered quality time?”
Betty smiled back. “Yeah, we’ll call it that.”
That afternoon, Dave, Liz, and Ben came home. Cat, who was outside, came in and yelled to Betty, “Mom, you won’t believe the size of the freezer Dad bought! Boy, it’ll take me a month to fill it!”
Cat ran back outside and said to her dad, “I’ll have to hunt and fish quite a bit to fill this.”
Dave replied, “Fill this, one and I’ll get another.”
Betty went outside and looked in the truck, then said to Dave, “Where are we going to put it? It won’t fit in the kitchen.”
“If it won’t fit, I can put it in the garage. I just couldn’t pass up this deal.”
“Then I’ll have to go to the garage to get the food.”
“Now, you know that you’ll have me or one of the kids get the stuff out of the freezer.”
“Well, yeah.”
“This one was on sale. I can always get a smaller one for the kitchen later. Who knows, they might have another sale.”
Betty shook her head and went back inside the house.
*****
Betty
