the baby, startled from his sleep, screamed in terror.
Aggie collapsed in an under-padded wing back chair, held the wailing baby, and cried.
Saturday, March 16 th
After over a week of diligent and exhausting house searching, things were looking dismal. It seemed as though there wasn ’ t a house in existence to suit her unique family, and Aggie was beginning to feel desperate. Thus far, her shopping experiences, even for her convertible and the van, had been swift and painless. To Aggie, a week searching was tantamount to a lifetime. She ’ d understood that this motherhood experience was going to bring about the patience that her parents always encouraged her to cultivate. She ’ d always ignored the suggestion, but Aggie now saw the wisdom of it.
A look of excitement crossed her features, and Aggie dashed out to the back of her new van. Writing on her palm with a pink pen, she jogged back into the house and to the phone. Praying that Zeke was at work today, Aggie dialed the number for the car lot.
“ May I speak to Zeke please? ” Aggie ’ s voice sounded much calmer than she felt. By the time Zeke came on the line, Aggie felt decidedly foolish. Zeke was a car salesman, not a realtor.
“ Zeke, this is Aggie Milliken again. I have a silly question for you. Do you mind humoring me? ” Zeke ’ s familiar chuckle was music to her ears. “ Yes, the van ’ s running great, this is about a house. Do you know of any fairly large homes for sale? ”
“ Well, missy, I have to admit, I do know of a house that ’ s big enough for your little clan. Do you know how to get to Brant ’ s Corners? It ’ s just across the highway from Brunswick, off Highway 32. ” Aggie shook her head and then realized Zeke was still waiting for an answer.
“ No, actually, I don ’ t, but I am very good with directions. Can you tell me how to get there? Do you know what the owners are asking for the house? ”
“ Well, the house hasn ’ t been lived in for years. The county just put it on the market last week for back taxes. So far, there haven ’ t been any bites that we ’ ve heard of, because it needs so much work. ”
Aggie demurred. “ Oh, Zeke, I can ’ t afford the time and expense of refurbishing a house. What if it wasn ’ t safe? I have to think of the children. ”
“ Oh, no, missy. The house is structurally sound. Our Luke went out there and looked it over when they listed it in the paper. He said it looks worse than it is. It just needs cosmetic changes and minor repairs. There isn ’ t anything unsafe about it.
“ My nephew, Luke, likes to flip houses. You know, when you fix up places and either rent them out or sell them at a profit? He wanted this one, but he ’ s stretched a little thin right now. He bought another place on the other side of town just before the county put this one up. He was disappointed that he couldn ’ t buy it -- such a nice place and all. ”
Still unconvinced, Aggie hesitated. “ I don ’ t know Zeke. I mean, I have eight children to care for, and the last thing I need right now is more work. Any house I buy needs to be safe and practical for our family. I ’ m not sure I am prepared for the time, expense, and hassle of a ‘ fixer-upper. ’”
Zeke tried again. “ Missy, how about you and I go out there? I ’ ll show you around and give you an idea what the place would need to be livable. You might be able to get it before spring is over, and you ’ d have all summer to get it refurbished. I think you could have it all fixed up and be settled by winter if you found the right handy man. ”
She felt bad about being difficult when she ’ d asked for the elderly man ’ s help, so Aggie agreed to see the house. She arranged for a sitter with one of the names on her volunteer list, and a couple of hours later, Aggie and Zeke zipped down the highway between Brant ’ s Corners and Rockland. Before long, they pulled into an overgrown circular dirt driveway.
“
Aggie collapsed in an under-padded wing back chair, held the wailing baby, and cried.
Saturday, March 16 th
After over a week of diligent and exhausting house searching, things were looking dismal. It seemed as though there wasn ’ t a house in existence to suit her unique family, and Aggie was beginning to feel desperate. Thus far, her shopping experiences, even for her convertible and the van, had been swift and painless. To Aggie, a week searching was tantamount to a lifetime. She ’ d understood that this motherhood experience was going to bring about the patience that her parents always encouraged her to cultivate. She ’ d always ignored the suggestion, but Aggie now saw the wisdom of it.
A look of excitement crossed her features, and Aggie dashed out to the back of her new van. Writing on her palm with a pink pen, she jogged back into the house and to the phone. Praying that Zeke was at work today, Aggie dialed the number for the car lot.
“ May I speak to Zeke please? ” Aggie ’ s voice sounded much calmer than she felt. By the time Zeke came on the line, Aggie felt decidedly foolish. Zeke was a car salesman, not a realtor.
“ Zeke, this is Aggie Milliken again. I have a silly question for you. Do you mind humoring me? ” Zeke ’ s familiar chuckle was music to her ears. “ Yes, the van ’ s running great, this is about a house. Do you know of any fairly large homes for sale? ”
“ Well, missy, I have to admit, I do know of a house that ’ s big enough for your little clan. Do you know how to get to Brant ’ s Corners? It ’ s just across the highway from Brunswick, off Highway 32. ” Aggie shook her head and then realized Zeke was still waiting for an answer.
“ No, actually, I don ’ t, but I am very good with directions. Can you tell me how to get there? Do you know what the owners are asking for the house? ”
“ Well, the house hasn ’ t been lived in for years. The county just put it on the market last week for back taxes. So far, there haven ’ t been any bites that we ’ ve heard of, because it needs so much work. ”
Aggie demurred. “ Oh, Zeke, I can ’ t afford the time and expense of refurbishing a house. What if it wasn ’ t safe? I have to think of the children. ”
“ Oh, no, missy. The house is structurally sound. Our Luke went out there and looked it over when they listed it in the paper. He said it looks worse than it is. It just needs cosmetic changes and minor repairs. There isn ’ t anything unsafe about it.
“ My nephew, Luke, likes to flip houses. You know, when you fix up places and either rent them out or sell them at a profit? He wanted this one, but he ’ s stretched a little thin right now. He bought another place on the other side of town just before the county put this one up. He was disappointed that he couldn ’ t buy it -- such a nice place and all. ”
Still unconvinced, Aggie hesitated. “ I don ’ t know Zeke. I mean, I have eight children to care for, and the last thing I need right now is more work. Any house I buy needs to be safe and practical for our family. I ’ m not sure I am prepared for the time, expense, and hassle of a ‘ fixer-upper. ’”
Zeke tried again. “ Missy, how about you and I go out there? I ’ ll show you around and give you an idea what the place would need to be livable. You might be able to get it before spring is over, and you ’ d have all summer to get it refurbished. I think you could have it all fixed up and be settled by winter if you found the right handy man. ”
She felt bad about being difficult when she ’ d asked for the elderly man ’ s help, so Aggie agreed to see the house. She arranged for a sitter with one of the names on her volunteer list, and a couple of hours later, Aggie and Zeke zipped down the highway between Brant ’ s Corners and Rockland. Before long, they pulled into an overgrown circular dirt driveway.
“
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