Introduction: This short story was inspired by my father who, for so many years, has worked hard and done whatever is necessary to provide for his family.
The rusted red Chevy rattled its way into the drive way, and halted in the usual spot. Tom Wilson slumped his shoulders as the engine turned off. Tom looked over his little house; It was a modest house. The front had no more than a little red door and two windows. It had a roof that bowed in the middle, where the snow seemed to be collecting. Nothing fancy but enough for him, a wife, and a teenage daughter.
The inside lights shone through the windows like two eyes peering into the night, beckoning him to the front door. Tom grabbed his welding helmet and his lunch box, and walked in the house. He stomped his boots by the front door and ruffled his short hair to remove the snow. He looked at the thermostat, and turned the dial down a notch. The electric bill was always high this time of year.
He entered the little kitchen. Dinner sat simmering on the stove as his wife tossed vegetables into the bubbling pot. She stood at the counter in her blue nursing scrubs.
Tom noticed the stack of bills on the table and began sifting through the pile. He sat down and opened them up one-by-one. He felt as if each bill was getting larger as he went.
“It’s going to be okay,” Katy said, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
“What makes you think there’s something wrong?” Tom replied.
“Because every time something’s wrong your eyebrows look like they are holding the weight of the world,” Katy said, placing a kiss on his cheek. Tom leaned back and loosened up the grip his forehead seemed to be holding.
“I just don’t see how we can do it, Katy.” Tom rubbed the side of his head, as if the rubbing would make a genie in a bottle appear with the money they needed.
“There has to be something we can pay off now, right?” Katy sat down by his side, holding one of the bills.
“We can pay the phone bill. That’s about it.” Tom folded his arms and stared down the papers, hoping they might disappear.
“We’ll look at this again tomorrow. But I’ve gotta get to work. I picked up a shift at the hospital.” Katy grabbed her purse and kissed her husband. “Dinner’s on the stove. Mari, I’m leaving!” She called walking out the door.
“Bye Mom! Love you!” Tom’s daughter called from her upstairs bedroom.
Later that night Tom’s eyes strained against the fluorescent computer screen. The night time was one of the few moments Tom had alone. He sat on the lumpy living room couch, scrolling through the endless job listings that were just out of his reach. Each listing worth applying for required more education; whether for advancement in his current field or something else. The problem was that continuing education required money that they definitely didn’t have.
Tom slumped his shoulders.
“What now God?” He held his head in his hands. “We need more money, but no way of getting it. I’ve hit a wall here.” When no mighty voice came from heaven telling him what to do, Tom shut his computer and trudged to bed.
Tom had bigger plans for his life. Just getting by wasn’t his ideal life. Ideally, he would have finished college. Ideally, he would have a nice office job somewhere with a nice house, and his daughter secure with the best education. His ideals didn’t include the road blocks that life always presented. He didn’t expect to have sudden health issues that would force him to leave school. But such was life—filled with unpredictable road blocks.
The next morning, Tom stood in the Cumberland Farms gas station, pouring the piping hot coffee into a disposable cup. The gas station was filled with men and women who, like Tom, got up before the sun rose. He noticed some familiar faces—the grizzly looking man who only ever got a large coffee and a Honey Bun, and the woman in the neon green vest who always walked out with a diet coke. One familiar face stood out among the regulars—it was someone that Tom hadn’t seen in a long time.
“Ben Johnson? Is that you?” The towering man turned his head.
“Tom Wilson!” Ben blurted. He grabbed Tom’s hand and patted him on the shoulder. “How have you been old man?” Ben teased Tom with his old nickname. Ben and Tom had been friends since high school. In those days, Ben had always called Tom “old man” even though he was only a heaping year and a half older than him.
“I’m doing alright. What are you doing in town?”
“I’m expanding my business, moving a shop up here. Been scoping out some potential buildings. How about you? What’ve you been up to these–uh–what is it? Fifteen years now?” Tom told him the basics—working as a welder, married, and a daughter just about ready for high school.
“Well Tom, it sounds like you’ve got the American dream right there.” Ben smiled warmly.
Tom chuckled. “Well, if the American dream means debt and high taxes, then I’ve definitely got it.”
“Hmm. I don’t suppose I could convince you to start working for me? We’re in the process of training some new guys, but I need a man who’s got some experience in the construction business. All my guys tend to be kids fresh out of school,” Ben said ruffling through his pockets.
Tom gave him a half smile, “That sounds like a great offer, but I can’t afford to go back to school right now. Katy and I have too many bills and we want to save for Mari’s college.”
Ben nodded his head and handed Tom a little white card. “I get it, money’s tight. But there might be something we could work out. If you change your mind, here’s my card. I’ll be in town for the next two weeks. Maybe we can talk over some details. Think about it, Tom.”
“I think I will, thanks Ben.” Tom slid the card in his pocket.
“See you around!” Ben waved as he headed out the door.
On his ride home from the shop, Tom’s thought back to the events of the morning and his prayer the night before. He shook his head. Stop kidding yourself Tom. Life doesn’t work like that, he thought. But Tom couldn’t help but let his mind wander—What if? What if there wasn’t a stack of bills waiting for him when he got home. What if he had a truck that started up on the first try. What if he made enough money for Mari’s college. What if he made enough money for Katy to quit her job? He shook his head and turned on the radio. The broadcasters not-so-civil discussions about foreign policy, distracted Tom’s wandering mind.
Later that week, Tom arrived home from work to find Mari sitting in the living room, her nose buried in what was probably her third book of the week. As he walked into the kitchen, the smell of burning bread stung his nose. When he saw little pillars of smoke rising from the oven, he ran to the stove. Shutting off the oven, he cracked it open to find charred bread that was probably meant for that night’s dinner.
“Mari! Where’s your mother?” Tom called form the kitchen
“She went upstairs a few minutes ago,” Mari called from the living room. Tom went upstairs to their bedroom and found Katy asleep on their bed—scrubs still on. Tom heart sank as he watched his wife as her chest rose and fell at an even rhythm. Her eyes were sunken and her hair tied in a knot on her head. He walked over and covered her with a blanket.
“Dad? Is Mom okay?” Mari called from the bottom of the stairs.
“She’s fine, just tired. She’s been working a lot,” Tom explained, walking back to the kitchen.
“I can tell. She seems so exhausted when she gets home.”
“I know,” Tom sighed and slumped into the kitchen chair.
Mari gave her father a hug. “How was your day?”
“Long,” Tom replied.
“You and Mom both, huh?” Mari asked as she pulled the burned bread from the oven.
“Yeah.” Tom paused, “me and Mom both.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the little white business card. “Johnson’s Electric” was written in big letters across the top. He rubbed the letters and felt the smooth ink as he twirled it in his hands. He looked at Mari as she began preparing dinner for her mother. Tom pulled out his cell phone and dialed the number.
When Tom heard from Ben Johnson again two days later, life seemed a little different, a little brighter. They talked over some of the details of Ben hiring Tom. Ben needed someone experienced and Tom was the man for the job. He would have to go back to school, but the looming funds no longer concerned Tom. After some negotiation, Ben and Tom worked it out—schooling would be covered. Tom just had to wait for the call.
It was a Sunday afternoon when the call came. The afternoon football games held the whole family’s attention in the last quarter. The Patriots were ahead by twenty points.
Tom heard his phone buzz on the kitchen table. He answered to find Ben Johnson on the other end. “Hi Ben! How are you? Oh, I’m doing okay… Mhmm … Right… How long? … Sounds good. Thanks again, Ben I really appreciate it… Alright have a good one.” Tom hung up the phone.
“What was that about?” Katy asked.
“That was Ben. I start in two weeks.” His face broke out into a small smile. Katy exploded with excitement.
“I’m so excited for you!” She hugged him, squeezing his neck so tight Tom thought his head might pop off.
“Maybe we can finally get our feet on the ground.” Tom smiled.
Katy smiled and kissed her husband. “Only a little while longer.”
“Yeah, that’s the plan. I’m getting a little tired of burned bread,” Tom teased.
Katy hit his arm and returned to the stove to finish the weeks meal preparation.
After the football game was over, Tom grabbed his jacket and began dressing for the cold winter air.
“I’m gonna go to the store. You need anything?” Tom asked.
“Oh! Yes! I need just a few things,” Katy said, swiftly grabbing a pen and paper. She jotted down a list, tossing open the cabinets and the fridge to see what was left. When she was finally done, Tom had a list of almost twenty items. Just a few things, huh? He thought. He and rolled his eyes, heading for the door.
He hopped in his truck, moving his welding helmet and gloves, to the back seat. He breathed into his hands trying to get some warmth back in them. His breath came out in puffs suspended in the air. To Tom, there was something relieving about the cold. Though sometimes it pierced your lungs, the pain never lasted long. Eventually the cold subsided and warmth came in again. Tom chuckled. Thank you, God, he thought to himself. Tom turned the key to his truck. The engine turned over a few times. He sighed, and waited. He tried one more time. After a few minutes the truck started up like normal, the loud engine revved. “Only a little while longer,” He said, tuning the radio to his favorite station.
