A 9/11 Memory...
...well, actually, I crafted this story from true events that occurred two weeks AFTER that fate-full day. But some of these actions, and the story were an outgrowth of the horror, heroism and Humanity that day revealed to the world.
It's a two-part story:
The “Porch” Sale…
Something happened last week that brought new perspective to a very old pastime. Some neighbors were moving on up in the world, and decided to pass on their good fortune to some “less” fortunate souls. Ferris had gotten himself a new job, more money… and Francine had gotten brand new appliances (for the first time in their married life). To properly mark this milestone in their domestic bliss, they decided to sell their old tumble-dry/washateria combo (which had been given to them sometime during the polyester age) to someone else. They also said goodbye to two living room tables and a microwave… which didn’t go with any of the “new” stuff.
Nowadays we call it a “porch” sale, or a “garage” sale… or, if we’re really feeling benevolent, a “yard” sale (that just sounds grander, bigger don’t it?). And experts tell us that they’ve been around, in one form or another, since about two weeks after the first porch and garage were erected on the first yard. But I haven’t heard of too many that turned out like this one did.
The Promise…
Ferris, he muscled the washer and dryer out the back door, around the side yard and up to the end of the driveway. As he was puffing his way back for the microwave, Francine called out, “Don’t you think we ought to put some signs on them? I mean, people may not stop if we don’t let them know they’re for sale and how much we’re asking.”
Ferris pulled one corner of his mouth back in a thoughtful grimace, then said, “I don’t know. Let’s get it all out here, then worry about that.”
Well, he needn’t have worried.
Just as he hefted the microwave on top of the dryer a car pulled into the space next to these treasures, a woman leaned out the window and said, “Are you selling these?”
Ferris explained they were, assured her that everything worked… well. And he let her know that there were two good tables waiting their turn to be admired, still in the house.
The lady asked if she and her husband had time to run and get a truck. Ferris gave her his word that they had until noon. After that… the stuff was up for grabs.
Little did Ferris know that keeping his word would almost turn out to be dangerous.
Those folks had no sooner taken off like a herd of turtles when a couple of fellas screeched to a halt… backed up… and looked hungrily at the appliances, then at Ferris, then back at the goodies.
“How much?” the smaller one asked.
“Not for sale until noon.” replied Ferris.
“What do you mean, ‘until noon’?”
“Just what I said. I gave my word to some people just a few minutes ago that I’d give them until noon to get back with a truck.”
Those two fellas just blinked at each other. Then the noticeably larger one pointed out what he must have felt to be a compelling advantage he and his friend held over these other folks. “Well, we got a truck. Right here!”
“And I’m happy for you”, Ferris replied. “But I gave my word.”
You could tell that these men were quite familiar with the buying and selling of used goods. But this anomaly of someone “keeping their word”… especially about a harvest gold Kenmore in a driveway, was a completely new concept to them.
“But, we got CASH money!” The little one had found his voice again.
Ferris gave them both a long, measured look, wondering if he was going to have to take a beating to keep a promise. “Gentlemen. After noon, this stuff’s up for grabs. Until then, it’s off the market.” And with that, he turned and went back into the house.
Francine looked up from her packing, “What did those men want Ferris?”
“A piece of my hide, I think.”
Things Change…
Before another half hour had gone by, five more people stopped to check out the bargains… and Ferris hadn’t even put up the fancy hand-made signs that Francine provided. This was indeed the most unique porch sale he had ever been a part of. But Ferris hadn’t seen anything yet.
At about 11:30 a man that Ferris hadn’t seen yet pulled up next to all the treasure. Just as he was getting out of the truck, the “CASH money” boys pulled into the next driveway and glared at Ferris.
“My sister said it was good stuff… but, wow!” This man seemed genuinely impressed, but didn’t look like he could even afford to window shop.
“Yeah, it all works good, too. But I’m waiting on a couple to get here with a truck. I promised them first dibs on it all.”
“I know”, the gentleman softly replied, “They were getting it for me… there they come now.”
As they pulled up to the curb the woman smiled up at the fella and said, “Well, big brother, this will help you and the kids get back on your feet.”
Ferris looked from one… to the other, not sure which would have more trouble finding two dimes to rub together. And it’s still a matter of mild debate in the neighborhood about whether the recent events in our nation played any part in what happened next, but Ferris, who likes a dollar as well as the next man suddenly got this queer “glow” in his eyes.
“You really need this stuff, huh?” he said.
“Mister, me and the kids got the clothes on our backs, a job… and, thanks to my brother-in-law here, the down payment on an apartment.”
Ferris rolled his jaw around a bit, the way some men do when something bigger than normal ambles down the halls of their minds. “Excuse me a minute”, he said… and abruptly walked back into the house.
“Babe?”
“Yes, dear?”
“Francine, how would you like new lamps, dishes and linens and such?”
“Ferris. You alright?”
In the events of the next hour, nothing earth-shattering occurred at 1298 Campbell Street, but something powerful good about this old earth and this country did. And if you’ve got time, drop by again soon, the rest of the story is part of what’s good… in our neck of the woods.
...more to come
It's a two-part story:
The “Porch” Sale…
Something happened last week that brought new perspective to a very old pastime. Some neighbors were moving on up in the world, and decided to pass on their good fortune to some “less” fortunate souls. Ferris had gotten himself a new job, more money… and Francine had gotten brand new appliances (for the first time in their married life). To properly mark this milestone in their domestic bliss, they decided to sell their old tumble-dry/washateria combo (which had been given to them sometime during the polyester age) to someone else. They also said goodbye to two living room tables and a microwave… which didn’t go with any of the “new” stuff.
Nowadays we call it a “porch” sale, or a “garage” sale… or, if we’re really feeling benevolent, a “yard” sale (that just sounds grander, bigger don’t it?). And experts tell us that they’ve been around, in one form or another, since about two weeks after the first porch and garage were erected on the first yard. But I haven’t heard of too many that turned out like this one did.
The Promise…
Ferris, he muscled the washer and dryer out the back door, around the side yard and up to the end of the driveway. As he was puffing his way back for the microwave, Francine called out, “Don’t you think we ought to put some signs on them? I mean, people may not stop if we don’t let them know they’re for sale and how much we’re asking.”
Ferris pulled one corner of his mouth back in a thoughtful grimace, then said, “I don’t know. Let’s get it all out here, then worry about that.”
Well, he needn’t have worried.
Just as he hefted the microwave on top of the dryer a car pulled into the space next to these treasures, a woman leaned out the window and said, “Are you selling these?”
Ferris explained they were, assured her that everything worked… well. And he let her know that there were two good tables waiting their turn to be admired, still in the house.
The lady asked if she and her husband had time to run and get a truck. Ferris gave her his word that they had until noon. After that… the stuff was up for grabs.
Little did Ferris know that keeping his word would almost turn out to be dangerous.
Those folks had no sooner taken off like a herd of turtles when a couple of fellas screeched to a halt… backed up… and looked hungrily at the appliances, then at Ferris, then back at the goodies.
“How much?” the smaller one asked.
“Not for sale until noon.” replied Ferris.
“What do you mean, ‘until noon’?”
“Just what I said. I gave my word to some people just a few minutes ago that I’d give them until noon to get back with a truck.”
Those two fellas just blinked at each other. Then the noticeably larger one pointed out what he must have felt to be a compelling advantage he and his friend held over these other folks. “Well, we got a truck. Right here!”
“And I’m happy for you”, Ferris replied. “But I gave my word.”
You could tell that these men were quite familiar with the buying and selling of used goods. But this anomaly of someone “keeping their word”… especially about a harvest gold Kenmore in a driveway, was a completely new concept to them.
“But, we got CASH money!” The little one had found his voice again.
Ferris gave them both a long, measured look, wondering if he was going to have to take a beating to keep a promise. “Gentlemen. After noon, this stuff’s up for grabs. Until then, it’s off the market.” And with that, he turned and went back into the house.
Francine looked up from her packing, “What did those men want Ferris?”
“A piece of my hide, I think.”
Things Change…
Before another half hour had gone by, five more people stopped to check out the bargains… and Ferris hadn’t even put up the fancy hand-made signs that Francine provided. This was indeed the most unique porch sale he had ever been a part of. But Ferris hadn’t seen anything yet.
At about 11:30 a man that Ferris hadn’t seen yet pulled up next to all the treasure. Just as he was getting out of the truck, the “CASH money” boys pulled into the next driveway and glared at Ferris.
“My sister said it was good stuff… but, wow!” This man seemed genuinely impressed, but didn’t look like he could even afford to window shop.
“Yeah, it all works good, too. But I’m waiting on a couple to get here with a truck. I promised them first dibs on it all.”
“I know”, the gentleman softly replied, “They were getting it for me… there they come now.”
As they pulled up to the curb the woman smiled up at the fella and said, “Well, big brother, this will help you and the kids get back on your feet.”
Ferris looked from one… to the other, not sure which would have more trouble finding two dimes to rub together. And it’s still a matter of mild debate in the neighborhood about whether the recent events in our nation played any part in what happened next, but Ferris, who likes a dollar as well as the next man suddenly got this queer “glow” in his eyes.
“You really need this stuff, huh?” he said.
“Mister, me and the kids got the clothes on our backs, a job… and, thanks to my brother-in-law here, the down payment on an apartment.”
Ferris rolled his jaw around a bit, the way some men do when something bigger than normal ambles down the halls of their minds. “Excuse me a minute”, he said… and abruptly walked back into the house.
“Babe?”
“Yes, dear?”
“Francine, how would you like new lamps, dishes and linens and such?”
“Ferris. You alright?”
In the events of the next hour, nothing earth-shattering occurred at 1298 Campbell Street, but something powerful good about this old earth and this country did. And if you’ve got time, drop by again soon, the rest of the story is part of what’s good… in our neck of the woods.
...more to come
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