THE DEAL

The Bon Adventures and their three children have managed to survive the cramped conditions of their ancient Hoohooville farmhouse for eight years. But the owner of the place gave notice that the property had to be vacated within two months. The house would then be torn down and destroyed to make way for a new school building, so thus had begun their search that now brought them to look at the house at the edge of the swamp.

She started packing boxes of their belongings weeks ago. They currently sit stacked everywhere as a promising sign things will go according to plan. And on this night the couple sit together at their dining room table, surrounded by the boxes.

“I really like the quiet neighborhood. It reminds me of when we lived next door to Tony and Carrie. And it’s only two miles from my work."

Trixie lays her pen across the note pad and leans forward as she speaks to Way.

"Just think. The boys can each have their own bedroom, and the yard will be such a great place for David to play. I want to go back over tomorrow and take pictures of the kitchen cabinets and all the rooms while there is plenty of sunlight."

She picks up the pen again and adds this to her do-list.

Bon Adventure wonders aloud over the idea. Why would you photograph empty cabinets or rooms?

"So I can plan where I want to put my dishes and all of our furniture.”

“I suppose, but I need to get someone trustworthy to take a look at things over there. That water on the floor in the basement bothers me. And why is that sump pump full, I wonder?"

He pops open a can of beer and takes a sip.

"Then those pipes and wiring down there scare me to death just looking at them. All the painting stuff I can handle myself, but I don‘t know a darned thing about plumbing or electrical. I wonder if Ken would check it out for me.”

The children act excited over the proposed move. The wife is unwavering; this is exactly the house she wants. All the while Bon Adventure entertains his qualms.

But soon after a mob of real estate agents and lawyers, along with two buyers and as many sellers, meet around a well-lit conference table owned by an honest mortgage firm, and shortly after buyers and sellers sit with the gang of professionals for two tiring hours asking and answering questions, and right after signing stacks of forms the experts offer to both buyers and sellers, the Bon Adventure’s hands reach across the table to shake in agreement with all.

And so life goes in Hoohooville.