Pennies from Heaven

By Lorrien Crowder

When he rains, it pours-only its pennies. Real pennies! Pennies from heaven.

Penny Haven, USA, suffers its worst drought, the third in a row. Crops and orchards fail, and when 60-year-old Arliss Potts, the last of the small farmers in Penny Haven, loses his custodial job, he is at his wits end.

The Potts family, an African-American family, are a God-abiding family, and try to live by the Ten Commandments. But when bills mount, Arlisss faith is tested. He trusts in the Lord and prays daily, but when it seems the family might lose their beloved farmstead, Arliss is just about ready to call it quits.

He prays and asks for a sign. A sign for them to stay. If he doesnt get a sign within a week of asking the Lord, Arliss decides to end it all and leave his family the life insurance policy so his family will be provided for and can stay on the farmstead they love.

The sign comes in a most unexpected way and tests Arliss Potts and his familys faith in ways they never anticipated.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: Oct 16, 2017
• ISBN: 9781489709035

Lorrien Crowder

This is Lorrine Crowder’s first attempt at writing a cross between sci-fi and an eco-horror. She is extremely passionate about the environment and wildlife species. She wrote the story hoping to get more people on board in helping the environment. “Every little thing we do is a positive or negative action on the environment. In this story the negatives outweigh the positives. I believe in making the world a better place to live in for future generations. This story shows that we can’t have imbalances or we will all pay for it-eventually. And there is a serious problem as many species are being wiped out every day because of deforestation, poaching, the exotic pet trade, the palm oil industry, etc. etc. etc. and if we don’t do something positive, someday we will all be sorry, and if not us, perhaps future generations will pay the price. The story shows there can be positive solutions or negative ones. Do we care or not care? We can choose to do something. Or we can choose to do nothing. It’s our choice. Positive or negative.”

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Copyright © 2017 Lorrien Crowder.

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LifeRich Publishing is a registered trademark of The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.

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ISBN: 978-1-4897-0904-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-0905-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-0903-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016915979

LifeRich Publishing rev. date: 09/11/2017

Contents

Chapter 1   The Potts Family

Chapter 2   Big Troubles

Chapter 3   The ‘Sign’

Chapter 4   Raining Pennies From Heaven

Chapter 5   Living ‘Abnormally’

Chapter 6   The Almighty’s Plan?

Chapter 7   A Faith Tested

Chapter 8   Exposing the ‘Divine’ Truth

Chapter 9   Disbelief!

Chapter 10   Witnessing A Phenomenon!

Author’s Note

Although pennies in real life-would be a burdened-not so in this story. Raining pennies from heaven would probably never make anyone rich-but in this story of miracles-they do. In this story, these little miracles from heaven become a mixed blessing: A story full of little miracles from heaven that become one big, miracle in the end. It’s a little bit of fantasy inspired from the heart.

All characters are African-American.

The Havensvilles in Havens County include Penny Haven, Myers Haven, Robertsville and Collinsville.

Havens County population around 86,500

Around 55,000 African-Americans, 30,000 Caucasians and 1,500 Hispanics in Havens County

Penny Haven, USA, a rural town with a population of around 19,000.

Prelude Summary:

Miracles don’t happen often. But one happened to the Potts family that the town of Penny Haven, USA and the whole country would never forget.

PREFACE

Pennies’ author, Lorrien Crowder, was inspired to write this story from Bible studies she was taking at the time, and from a couple of songs that came to her head as she worked at her job: ‘Pennies From Heaven,’ and ‘I’m Busted.’

Lots of thinking and lots of notes and years later, she wrote the story.

Originally, she envisioned the story to be set in the 1950’s, but because she was unfamiliar with that time, she went for a more modern time.

She pictured one of her favorite actors, Morgan Freeman, as the main character: Arliss Potts, and centered the story around an African-American family.

She, also, at first, had the story set when President Barack Obama was in office-but then changed it to an earlier time so the Potts family could experience harder times-without health insurance-to show the plight of poorer families.

So, former President Obama is on a mural in the story as Illinois Senator Barack Obama, whom the author dedicates this story to.

INTRODUCTION

In this first-published story by Lorrien Crowder, you can expect to see a God-abiding family get all caught up in a miracle, several miracles from God-the ‘Sign’ as Arliss Potts calls it-that they forget to ‘practice’ what is preached to them through their faith.

When they come to that realization, something dramatic happens. So dramatic it seems that the real meaning of the ‘Sign’ is lost and may never be put into good practice.

In several of the reading is ‘church-abiding’ member, family, man. She wants to clarify something: Church-abiding doesn’t necessarily mean a good person. Anyone can go to church but practice anything but ‘goodness’ outside their lives. ‘God-abiding’ people are those who practice and live according to the good Lord’s teachings.

Chapter 1 The Potts Family

S ixty-year-old Arliss Potts stood alone in the barn praying. Praying like he never prayed before. He had just given up the family’s two beloved horses, breaking his daughter’s heart and breaking his own heart. It was a trying time for the Potts family, for all the families in the Havensvilles, but especially for the Potts family. Arliss Potts had recently lost his job.

The drought had spoiled the crops and orchards. They had sold all their animals. Now the whole farmstead was at stake.

Arliss decided he was going to kill himself. Arliss looked up. Lord, please give me a sign. Some kinda sign. I can’t take no more. A week from tanight, if I don’t git no sign, I’m leavin’ this earthly dwellin’. God, help me, please. ‘Jehovah is near to all… who call on Him in truth.’ I trust in You, O Lord. Help me. In Jesus name in whom we receive our salvation. Amen. Head down, shoulders slumped, Arliss walked out of the barn.

A Week Later…

At the dinner table, heads bowed as Arliss spoke. Thank Ya, Lord, fer this food You give us. Please end this drought. Thank Ya, Lord. In Jesus name.

Amen.

They rose their heads all except for Arliss, his eyes closed, his lips moving, as he prayed hard. A sign. Please give us a sign. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Arliss rose his head.

A sign, you mumbled a sign. Emma Potts, Arliss’s wife, looked at him.

Musta slipped out.

Arliss turned the radio on down low.

The Potts family ate an early supper as they had to be at their church’s hunger meal to serve meals for the town’s hungry that evening. Only Arliss wasn’t going. He told them he didn’t feel well, which he didn’t. Their current state of affairs, having to move, leave his birthplace, and the farmstead had all taken its toll on him. After they left, that’s when he would do it: kill himself. They would be left with his life insurance policy.

Arliss’s family, Emma, Dottie, 16, Sidney, 26, and Liddy, Arliss’s mother, 86, sat together, eating. Only Arliss didn’t eat. He hadn’t eaten much lately so that his family would have more to eat. That was the kind of man he was.

Arliss Potts prayed for a sign. A sign to end his woes even during the dinner prayer. Every day and night, since that prayer in the barn, Arliss had been praying for a sign. But it wasn’t what he expected. And it came in the most unusual way. And it came quickly. Suddenly, it started to rain. Rain hard. Like hail. Only louder. What in blazes is that?

That don’t sound like rain to me, Liddy added.

The birds were flying off just minutes ago. Pops says it’s a bad omen. Dottie looked at her family.

It rained harder and louder. Loud thud sounds.

When it rains it pours. Sidney chuckled.

It’ll kill the birds.

It must be hail.

"It’s the hardest hail I ever heard.

It’ll kill the birds, Dottie said for a second time.

Liddy covered her ears. It hurts my ears.

Arliss looked up. Hope the roof don’t cave in.

The thud sounds became deafening. They scrambled up and over to the windows as their eyes grew wide.

What in heaven are those? I can’t make heads or tails outta it.

That don’t look like rain to me.

Maybe it’s acid rain. Dottie said.

Sidney ran to get his binoculars and put them up to his face. It’s pennies!

What!

Sidney opened the kitchen screen door and they all stared out, spellbound.

"It’s raining pennies…

"From…

Heaven.

Seconds Later…

They were scooping up pennies, lots of pennies, and letting them fall from their hands, they laughed, they cried, they jumped up and down in joy. There were pennies. Pennies everywhere!

We’re saved. Arliss looked up, humbled by it all. It’s a sign. The sign.

Two Months Before…

It was the end of March. A warmer March than usual as most of the country was suffering from its third drought in a row. Arliss stomped into the kitchen, late, although it was only 8am. Last of the plantin’ in. Pausing, he sniffed. Um…nothin’ like bacon an’ eggs.

Emma glanced at him from the table as they all waited to say grace. Ham and eggs.

Arliss started for the table.

Wipe your feet.

Arliss wiped them on the small rug at the door. Does it even do any good ta plant with this drought?

Try is all we can do, Emma said.

He sat down. Good ol’ hash brown taters.

Heads bowed in prayer, as Arliss said grace. After grace, Arliss leaned over and turned the radio on low as they ate, and could talk, too, and listen to the Jack Hawkins Report. This is the half hour Jack Hawkins Report. You can watch this program on local public TV, too.

Jack went on. We are facing another drought, our third in a row. Last winter, we had no snow, there’s been no rain and it is unusually warm this time of year. Is it global warming? Many suspect it is.

Arliss looked over at Dottie. Hey, Dottie this is just up yer alley?

Dottie nodded seriously.

Arliss turned the radio down lower. Let’s say a prayer to the Lord ta help end these droughts.

Heads bowed in prayer.

‘He covers the sky with clouds. He supplies the earth with rain, and maketh the grass grow on the hills’. Please, Lord, make us a bountiful crop an’ end these droughts. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Within an hour, they walked toward the old 60’s Ford station wagon, Arliss still mumbling his morning prayers when the stagnant air interrupted his quiet worship. Whew! His nose wrinkled. The bad smell came from the recently built confinement farm about a mile away.

A cat slinked past them. It was one of their neighbors’, the Riddles’ cats, Old Yeller, a yellow and white cat. Skedaddle! Arliss grumbled as the old cat ran off.

Dressed in Sunday clothes, each carried a sack filled with food for the food pantry at the church except for Sidney, who ran up, out of his workshop, pulling a shirt over his head. They all piled into the old station wagon as Arliss spoke. How’s ol’ Betsy runnin’, Sid?

Sidney started the car as it made a loud, rumble sound and spurted out exhaust in the back. She should be up and running, Pops. I overhauled the engine, oiled her up good, did a brake job and a tune-up, and the works.

Old Betsy started with a jerk then puttered down the long gravel road toward the main road to the First Baptist Church about four miles away.

Inside the First Baptist Church basement, Dottie Potts and sixteen-year-old Bernie Allen volunteered for the day care as Sunday school was taught for the older children by their parents and other adults in other rooms.

Babies cried as Dottie gently rocked a seventh-month-old in her arms, and Bernie Allen swung a one-year-old in a play swing as the child giggled.

The baby in Dottie’s arms quieted down as Bernie smiled over at her. You’d make a great mother, Dottie.

Shyly, Dottie turned her head as she held the baby. Then thinking she’d come off rude, she looked at Bernie. Thank you.

Bernie’s mother, Benita, looked over at the two and smiled. She supervised the Kiddie Day Kare.

That same morning, Arliss taught Sunday school to children five to seven years old. He held a children’s Bible in his hand as he glanced up from it to the children. Jesus is our friend and Savior.

Emma taught the pre-teens in another room and Liddy taught the younger children from four to five year olds, as other Sunday school teachers taught in other rooms.

Sunday school was from 10am to 11am. Church services were held after Sunday school.

Dottie and Bernie, with about fifteen others in the choir, sung hymns on the stage in the front of the church. After singing, the choir sat in the front row as Reverend Irwin Barnes stood at the podium.

The Potts family sat in the front pews. The women wore hats and dresses. Arliss wore his pressed blue shirt and dress slacks with red, white and blue suspenders, and a red, white and blue tie, and a black hat looking somewhat distinguished. Sidney wore a wrinkled shirt that made Emma frown, and blue jeans that made her frown even more.

Reverend Barnes, 69, spoke from the pulpit. Before we begin, I have some announcements. First, thank you all for your continued support and contributions. The Easter dinner will be held in the church basement next Sunday. Those who can stay after services, we need help in packing boxes with donated canned and non-perishable goods for the hungry and homeless.

Bernie Allen smiled over at Dottie. Too shy to smile, Dottie felt her heart race and looked away.

Reverend Barnes went on. We’ll take up an extra collection for mosquito nets to protect Africans against malaria, and other insect-borne diseases. Please give generously if you can. And thank you.

There was a pause. Now to our sermon which will be on giving. Easter is almost here. Easter means giving. Easter should give us faith because of eternal life that our Savior Jesus willingly gave for us on Easter. Easter. Eternal life. Jesus, our Savior, says in John 8:12: ‘I am the light of the world. Whomever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life,’ which is what He gave us on Easter. Light and life. Says John 3:16: ‘For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.’ Jesus, our Savior and Salvation. That alone should give us light and faith.

Reverend Barnes went on with his sermon about how Jesus healed and helped people giving them the light of life. And that’s why 1 Peter 5:7 says, ‘Cast your cares upon the Lord for He cares about you.’ Have faith.

Amen.

Little did the Potts family know but soon the whole family’s faith would be tested in ways that they never imagined.

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After the service, in the church’s basement, members filled boxes with canned goods for the hungry. As they packed, they talked. Dottie would have liked to talk to Jonee Michaels, but Jonee was never in the talking mood.

She was always like that. Kind of stuck up for a church-goer. Karla Riddles seldom went to church with her parents, and Dottie often wondered why. Both girls were in some of Dottie’s classes, and both, in Dottie’s eyes, were bullies.

Bernie smiled over at Dottie. Lots of boxes, huh, Dottie?

Yes. People need it during these hard times. Dottie found it hard to talk to Bernie because he was her secret crush. She was painfully shy anyway, but liking Bernie made it even harder to talk to him.

Emma put another filled box on top of the other as she took more goods to pack in the boxes. The Potts family had brought sacks with some canned items and jarred jellies and fruits and vegetables from their orchards and garden that they had salvaged from the droughts. Every year, they stored food items in the cellar to take to the local hunger drives or sell at the Farmer’s Market for extra income.

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The next day in school, at her desk, Dottie watched as the three meanest girls in class, whom she dubbed as the ‘Mean 3’, gossiped about another student, Edith Wombley.

Throwing a sharp backward glance over her shoulder at Dottie, Karla Riddles, the ring leader of the ‘Mean 3’, knew Dottie was listening to them. Fanny Smith and Jonee Michaels were also in Karla’s group.

Dottie was also the butt of their teasing. Hi, Patches, Steve Baxter giggled when he walked in eyeing Dottie’s blouse with a patch on it and glanced at her big hands, too. He sat down and talked to Karla.

Though most of them were middle class, and because Dottie’s family was poorer, the family’s clothes were often mended up with patches from older clothing. Frowning, Dottie looked down at the patch then at her big hands. ‘Man hands’ she was often called, and their size compared to the rest of her embarrassed her. It was like they were out of proportion to the rest of her.

Edith walked in avoiding stares, turning her head.

Look at fuzz ball and buck teeth, Karla Riddles said with a slight sneer as her two friends, Jonee Michaels and Fanny Smith giggled.

Edith glanced down as if ashamed and sat down.

Dottie knew how Edith felt. Kids could be so mean sometimes. She looked down at her patches and big hands.

It grew quiet as the teacher walked in.

Bernie Allen turned and smiled at Dottie but she looked away feeling insecure.

Bernie stared ahead at the teacher.

Jim Glossie frowned at Bernie. Jim liked Dottie a lot but Dottie didn’t know it.

Dottie looked up and then eyed the back of Bernie’s head. She sighed wistfully. Jim Glossie was fine enough for Dottie-the Glossie family good friends and neighbors with them for years. But Bernie was her secret dreamboat. He’d never like her anyway, but he was nice to her and to Edith and to all the pretty and not so pretty girls. She feared she would never marry. Would anyone ever want her? Dottie didn’t want to know the answer.

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It was Easter Sunday. The church was full. Some were there to worship God. Some were there to show off their new clothes. Karla Riddles had a new dress and shoes on. Dottie sat with the choir in the front row after singing, as Pastor Barnes spoke. Today’s Easter. What is Easter? The Easter bunny?

Some people chuckled but the Potts family remained serious. Pastor Barnes was somber, too. Sometimes it seems that way. The Easter bunny gets more attention than our Savior.

Some heads nodded sadly in agreement.

It seems like the real meaning of Easter is forgotten when material greed and profit come into play. It seems to be in every facet of our lives. Who has the most, the best. Some never satisfied-always wanting more and more.

Serious faces stared out at the Reverend.

Commercialism, materialism, greed and profit seem to be the norm in our world and the real meaning of Easter pushed aside. What is Easter? Pastor Barnes looked around at his congregation. "It is both life and death. Jesus took on our ‘original sin’ as a ransom by dying for us-and by rising with His resurrection-He redeemed us, restored life.

Ransom, resurrection, redemption, restoration-reward: Eternal life for us. Jesus did them all. Our promised reward, eternal life for all who believe and trust in Him and have faith in Him. In Jesus’ name, in whom we receive our salvation."

Amen.

After church services, families shared an Easter dinner with each other, enjoying each other’s fellowship.

Pastor Barnes sat at the head of the table, the Potts family sat near the Allen, Riddles and Michaels’ families.

Emma and Liddy talked to Benita Allen, and Rosa Michaels and Ranada Riddles, as the church men talked among themselves, Arliss mainly with his neighbors Ardan Allen, Carl Riddles and CC Michaels.

Karla Riddles and Jonee Michaels talked between themselves and to no one else, so Dottie just listened to her mother and Liddy gab with the church women. Dottie’s eyes strayed over to Bernie Allen as he looked her way. He smiled as she quickly turned her head feeling her heart flutter.

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Sidney Potts worked on a car in an open garage at Clive’s Auto Body Shop as the Potts’ two dogs, Shep, a sheepdog, and Bee, a beagle, ambled around. Well trained, they mainly stuck around Sidney. Sometimes the dogs went with Sidney to the station and sometimes they stayed home in the yard in a pen, or in the barns, or in his workshop. Often, in the winter, the dogs slept in the barn with the two horses.

Sometimes Arliss drove the dogs to town in his truck when he needed to pick up supplies. Emma never allowed animals in the car or the house. It was a strict rule they all obeyed.

It was past noon when Mamie Johnson pulled up and waited for Sidney to have lunch with her. She sighed as Todd Walker, another gas station mechanic, smiled and waved at her as she smiled and waved back. Todd walked up and made small talk with her as she waited for Sidney.

When the two dogs ran out of the garage, Todd tipped his cap at Mamie, as she smiled. Sidney walked up and hopped into Mamie’s car with his lunch pail as the two dogs jumped into the back seat of the car. Mamie drove off as Todd watched from the garage.

Sidney ate his sandwich in the car next to Mamie. Sometimes they went just outside of town to eat at a small park that had a few benches and picnic tables under some trees for shade for picnickers. Across from the park was the junk yard where Sidney loved to rummage around for junk. Good junk, he called it.

Why don’t you eat with me? Mamie asked, irritated, already knowing why.

I might find something I need. I only got a half hour.

Look after work.

It might be gone.

Who’d want junk?

It’s good junk. I recycle and save the earth.

Aw! Good junk my foot. Mamie kicked her foot out in disgust.

In minutes, they were at the park, as Mamie, in boredom, watched Sidney scrounge around for junk that he could use for his various inventions or projects that he and his family sometimes referred to as his ‘toys’. That junk included anything from engines, cables, pulleys, motors, batteries, keyboards, circuit breakers, control panels, wires, cell phones, vacuum cleaner parts, nuts and bolts, cords and old TV sets, old record players, typewriters and the lot. The two dogs looked around Sidney’s feet, at times, almost tripping him.

You totally geek me out, Mamie sighed as she ate alone feeling ignored. Geeks disgusted her. Her mind drifted off to Todd at the gas station. Would he eat with me? Mamie sighed wistfully, wondering.

When they left a half hour later, Sidney’s arms were full of all kinds of gadgets that he would use for his various projects or toys.

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Dottie got her books out of her locker as the ‘Mean 3’ passed by and smirked at her then giggled and walked on. Ignoring them, Dottie closed her locker as her father, a custodian at the school, walked down the hallway with a dustmop.

Hi, Pops.

Hi ya, Dot, he walked on as Dottie walked out the doors, Jim Glossie hurrying after her. I’ll hold your books, Dot.

The heavy books hurt her back when she put them in her backsack, so she always carried them. With her big hands she could hold lots of books. Dottie handed four books to Jim as he held his four books and clumsily dropped them all. Shucks! He wailed.

Dottie bent over and helped Jim pick the eight books up as Jim took them. Sorry.

It’s okay, they didn’t get hurt.

Yeah… Jim smiled over at Dottie. Feeling uneasy Dottie looked away. She could tell Jim liked her a lot and it made her nervous, when otherwise, she’d feel comfortable with him. But knowing him for so long, being neighbors since she could remember, she brushed it off. Walking down the hallway, they went out the door.

In minutes, the principal, Preston Sherman, rushed up to Arliss. Emma’s having an attack!

Arliss dropped the dust mop and ran out the door. Preston frowned after him, as the other custodian, Emmett Smith, came out of the janitor’s closet and watched with a big frown, too, both men worried over Emma Potts.

Emmett’s daughter, Fanny, was one of the ‘Mean 3’ that pestered Dottie and Edith. But Dottie liked Emmett and the Smith family. She just wondered why Fanny was the way she was-so mean from the rest of the Smith family.

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In his arms, Arliss rushed Emma to the car. The-the…

Don’t talk, Mops.

Emma gasped and panted, holding a hand to her chest as Arliss hopped into the car and took off.

In the ER, Emma had an IV in her arm, taking a treatment.

So that was it? Dr. Day said. Nebulizer quit working.

Yah, shore did.

Dr. Lamar Day turned with a prescription. Here’s a prescription for some prednisone and a new nebulizer.

Thanks, Doc.

An ER nurse walked in and took Emma off the nebulizer and IV as Arliss helped Emma up.

I reckon that new factory farm doesn’t help any, Arliss.

I reckon it don’t, none. Even got me ta coughin’.

They walked out, Arliss holding Emma’s arm.

Later that day Liddy was in her wheelchair watching religious TV. The year before, she had had a hip replacement. There was a hospital bed in the living room where she slept and watched TV. I’m glad your all right, Mops, close call.

I’ll say, Grams. Scary. Emma put her new portable nebulizer up after a treatment and picked her knitting up.

Liddy smiled over. Baby blankets for the Birthright mothers?

Emma nodded and stood and set the half-made baby blanket down. Nature calls.

Emma disappeared into the adjoining bathroom. Liddy’s leg was elevated on the wheelchair leg pedal, as at times, she had pain in it. Sometimes her legs swelled, and both legs had to be elevated in her hospital bed, propped up with pillows.

You can do it, the Lord will help you. That ailing body part, put your hand on it. The TV said. Liddy put her hand on her elevated leg.

That’s right, touch that ailing body part.

I’m touching.

And believe. Believe! The religious TV host yelled out as Liddy yelled back, believing.

I believe!

What? Emma’s voice came from the bathroom, but Liddy didn’t hear.

Let that pain be gone. Gone I tell you!

For those of you who can’t use that right leg, touch it. Now believe. Believe! And stand.

How about the left? Liddy said to the TV.

For those of you, who can’t use that left leg, touch it. Touch it! Believe! Now stand. Stand!

Liddy touched her left leg, then put the leg pedal down. She believed. Liddy hobbled up to stand. Then she fell. Oh!

Emma heard the scream and ran into the living room. Grams!

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They were in the ER. Liddy’s leg was in a half cast with a slight fracture. Arliss and Emma stood with Dr. Day. Liddy should not be alone. We can put her in a home…

She’s never alone. I…, embarrassed, Emma went on, I was in the bathroom when she fell.

Arliss spoke. Emma’s always home, and Dottie on the weekends and me, too.

That’s great, Arliss. She’ll need a cane to walk and her leg should be elevated as much as possible.

Shore thing, Doc.

Later, back at the house, Arliss got the wheelchair out of the car and helped Liddy into it as Dottie came out of the house and met them. Where you all been? I was looking for Grams…

ER-twice. Arliss wheeled Liddy toward the long walk up to the big farmhouse.

What!?

Grams fell.

You all right, Grams?

I’ll live. Smiling, Liddy added, speaking feebly, Just tired.

Ah, the fresh scent of the hog farm.

Dottie wrinkled her nose. It’s horrible.

Emma coughed.

In concern, Arliss looked over at her. Mops you shoulda stayed home.

I’m all right. Emma hurried up the steps and inside to close every window in the house.

When that wind blows the wrong direction…

It’s gagging, Liddy coughed out.

And those squeals, Dottie frowned. I hate those sounds. Dottie hated to think of any animal in distress.

I hate those critter squeals, too, Dottie. Arliss spoke with a cough. It’s the almighty dollar, I tell ya’, what it makes some people do. It’s the almighty dollar not the Almighty Lord. You go git your brother, Dot.

Dottie ran to the double garage in the distance into Sidney’s workshop. Help us, Sid.

Arliss gently picked Liddy up. Whew! she exclaimed with a giggle. I haven’t been held in years.

Arliss spoke with a chuckle. Then it’s about time, Grams. Carefully and slowly, he carried Liddy up the four porch steps as Dottie held the door open and Sidney folded the wheelchair and carried it up the steps.

I’ll make a ramp for Grams, Pops.

Sounds good, Sid.

The Potts’ farmstead was a sprawling one-hundred acres with a few barns, a corral, a chicken coop, a couple sheds, a double garage, and a big pasture. Behind the farmstead, several hundred acres stretched out with woods and a creek.

A long, curved gravel driveway led to the big farmhouse from the main gravel road, a fence bordering both sides and around the big farm yard.

A few chickens pecked at grain, as six hogs ate husked corn, and four diary cows and two horses grazed in what was once, lush fields of alfalfa, but now parched, brown grass. Bird baths dotted the front and back yard to help sustain the birds. A huge garden and fields of corn and soybeans and wheat were also on the acreage. Fruit, from trees of apples and pears, rhubarb bushes, and vines with blueberries and raspberries were canned and stored in the cellar. The Potts family and a few others in the Havensvilles were the last of the small farmers in the region.

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The next morning, Arliss and Dottie, in bib overalls,