Finding God in the Quarter Mile

By Terry Miller

God is good. This story attempts to be centered around custom hot rod cars and drag racing, but just like our lives, so many other life-altering events happen. Following families and friends going through challenges of false arrest, losing everything, and having to move—you know, just the usual trials and tribulations. Long-term rivalries with friends and family on and off the track. Greed and hatred being taught knowing and unknowingly too. Fathers and sons learning to bond as they grow closer to God. Brothers that don’t like each other coming together to help each other. Souls being saved through unique ways that only God would know to use. Cars, cars, and more cars! Did I mention cars? Justice being restored. Families torn apart then brought back together stronger and learning how to live for God!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9798886169843

Book preview

cover.jpg

Finding God in the Quarter Mile

Terry Miller

ISBN 979-8-88616-983-6 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88616-985-0 (hardcover)

ISBN 979-8-88616-984-3 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Terry Miller

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1

In the Beginning

Chapter 2

Next

Chapter 4

Homeschooling Is for Adults Too

Chapter 5

Reminders Are Not Always Fun

Chapter 6

Digging Just a Little Deeper

Chapter 7

Glitches

Chapter 8

The Bear Facts

Chapter 9

Auction In—Auction Out

Chapter 10

Canadia

Chapter 11

How Much?

Chapter 12

The Friends and Family Food Plan

Chapter 13

God Showing and Sharing God

Chapter 14

Dorthy and the New Gal Pals

Chapter 15

Canadia, Georgia: Imperfection Perfection

Chapter 16

Deneese and the House of Destruction

Chapter 17

Yes, He Did the Monster Max!

Chapter 18

Here Comes Tim

Chapter 19

Timber: The Higher They Think Are the Harder the Fall

Chapter 20

A Normal Citizen with Benefits

Chapter 21

You Know Who I Am!

Chapter 22

Look, Do You Want to Meet or Not

Chapter 23

Junk in the Trunk Only Smells Worse

Chapter 24

Just a Little Cruell T

Chapter 25

Don't Get Lost in the Story Yet

Chapter 26

Crash: No More Saleen, Then I Love It! Comes Next

Chapter 27

It's Auction Time

Chapter 28

Changes

Chapter 29

It's Time!

Afterword

About the Author

Introduction

Dave and Malenda were just the kind of sort of average couple. Dave was the accounts manager for a well-known investment company, and Malenda was a socialite doing all the usual things—like helping out at the bake sales and throwing some fundraiser parties for the nonprofit she worked at, then of course paying the household employees too. Their sixteen-year-old pretty much spoiled rotten son, Terrance, seemed to be on the most popular list just because.

Uncle Frank or UF as we'll call him for the story, is a forty-five-something guy that has had major tragedy in his life and has helped custom car shops open and get started. UF is currently building custom cars and doing custom car work for himself with the help of some very close friends. Emma—yes, he's a guy—is one of the oldies but goodies around UF's shop. Emma was there when it was first being done; in fact, we think he helped design the model T too. Sam is the fabrication man; the make-it or make-it-fit job is his. Being one of the younger employees at just twenty-nine, a lot of the heavy harder work falls onto him. Growing up watching and working side by side with his dad has given him wisdom far beyond his years. Coming in at the middle age at thirty-seven is Samuel or Dork, as he has been nicknamed just to prevent any confusion. His profession is all about building engines, tranny's, suspension, and braking—you know, the things that make the cars stop and go. We'll get more into all these characters a little later as we get started with the story.

Some other more major players in the story are Cienda, a single forty-three-year-old mom of a sixteen-year-old daughter heading down the wrong road. Cienda was just barely getting by, but she was really trying her best to install good moral values in her daughter, Anjie. Anjie is short for Angelina, but by her actions, Anjie seems to be a better fit. She is mostly just looking to find a way to get even with her mom for something. But if you ask her what her mom Cienda had done so terrible, don't expect an answer. One of her get-even plans is the long term by getting involved with Avery, the baddest of the bad boys. Avery is the seventeen-year-old son of the owner of one of the best custom car building shops in the northwest. Avery has at least one of the fastest and nicest muscle cars of all the high school students.

Hate is something that can only be taught, he could tell you, if he could only see it himself. Bear is his nickname, and his real name is Flower actually. But nobody dares to call him that. He's Avery's dad and the one that has been trying to perfect how to teach hate. Intimidation is the way that Flower—oops, I mean Bear—gets what he wants or who to do what he wants them to do.

If you wonder what all this has to do with God, stay tuned and I'll put it all together for you!

Chapter 1

In the Beginning

It was another hot sunny day with a nice layer of smog just to round things out in LA. Dave goes into his office just like almost every day before saying hello to the other employees. When Dave gets to his office, he noticed some things that were out of place. He asked his secretary if anyone had been in his office, and she said undoubtedly no. Feeling as though something was wrong, he went to see his boss, the owner; she was gone. Dave went back to his office. Not able to shake the fact that some things had been moved, he called the building security. They told him they would check and get back to him.

Within just a few minutes, the office was swarming with federal agents telling everyone to stop working, hang up the phones, and just be quiet and that all would be explained in a few minutes. Dave walks out to see what's going on and is stopped in his tracks, grabbed by both arms, and asked what his name is. He answers, then is advised of his rights under the law. I guess I will call my lawyer before I say anything.

At the same time, his house was being cleared out of paperwork and computers. Malenda was freaking out and trying to get through to Dave, leaving message after message, saying, Help! Help! What's going on? Call me or get home right away! The feds are here taking everything. Now they're saying that you're being questioned! Call me please!

The company lawyer, Ted Franklin, met Dave and the feds at the federal building hopefully to get down to the bottom of things. When Ted did find the underlying cause of things, he went to Dave with about the worst news there could ever be. Ted tries to break it to him gently. Dave, I talked to Malenda and let her know you were okay and I would be talking with you shortly. Now I'm here, but the news I have is not what you want to hear. Your boss Shela set you up for her patsy big-time. I looked at the paperwork trail she set up against you. She worked just about everybody. She embezzled about half the money that was invested and lost about thirty percent then spent twenty percent paying off the employees like you and the dividends to the investors too. The way the paperwork is done is a masterpiece. Wow, she put it all on you. Then she went as far as to leave an open computer page detailing how she left the country after finding out about what you had been doing to her investors and friends, knowing she would be disgraced and not able to work anywhere after being involved with this blatant fraud!

Dave was astounded, not even knowing what to say to all that. Ted went on to tell how Shela had made a lot of her major transactions on his computer with a separate password, leaving all the arrows pointing at him. Dave had the usual questions after getting the news that you just got shot in the back by your best friend: What now? How airtight is their case against me? Is suicide still illegal?

*****

Malenda was at home worrying about what is going to happen to them. The maid was curious, to say the least, about the people coming in and taking all the computers, payroll, and other important documents. So she asked Malenda about it. Malenda didn't have any sufficient answers for Jana the maid, except I don't really know.

Terrance called his mom, not knowing everything that had happened. He had just heard a little on his Facebook saying about the investments company his dad works for is a front for a scam. Mom, what's the deal? he asked. Malenda, trying to keep him from worrying too, just told him to come straight home because they needed to talk.

Malenda was busy trying to get as much info as possible before Terrance got home. She called what she thought was one of her good friends to get the down low of what was really going on.

Debbie answered the phone but was not in a good mood knowing who was calling, but she answered anyway with a giant attitude. Hello. What do you want? Didn't your husband taking all our money satisfy you, or do you now want to gloat too?

Whoa there, Debbie. I'm not exactly sure what you're talking about. I know that you are the one to know everything that is going on, so I'm calling you. Somehow I don't believe that you didn't know what your own husband has been doing with all that money. I don't know how much of everybody's money you used to throw parties and all those trips. I wonder how much of the donations to your charities ever even made it where it's supposed to. I am so mad I don't even want to hear from you. But know this, my lawyer will be in touch! Slam!

Well, Debbie had said a lot in less than a minute. Malenda was not prepared for all this being dumped on her and her family. Her phone started to ring. She looked at the caller ID, and it was some of her charity donors. She was too overwhelmed without any answers to give out she just let them go to voice mail.

Terrance was just pulling up as his mom was on the phone constantly trying to get any answers from Ted or Dave. Terrance came in totally disturbed while trying to consul his mom and, between the two of them, come up with some ideas of what just happened and what to do.

Good news travels, but bad news travels at the speed of sound. All the social networks were all over this, chomping at the bit to get everything first. As they were sitting watching all the hoopla on the Internet, Shape called Terrance. She was about as close to Terrance as any of his inner circle, so he answers, wanting to hear a friendly voice. When he answered, it was Shape's father wanting to talk to his mom because his friends want some serious answers about their money. Terrance, in shock, just said he would have her call when she has some serious answers for them and hung up while he was still ranting. Terrance said, I guess my phone goes on message mode too!

Ted calls. Malenda answers as fast as she can. Hello, Ted. What's going on? Please tell me what I do.

Ted lays it out for her and even added other things that make the case even tighter. The phone was on speaker, so Terrance heard the whole heartbreaking situation and asked about how to deal with the questions he was getting from his friends when they ask him what is going on.

Well, the best short answer I have for both of you is tell them, as soon as you have answers, a statement will be made. Remember to say that you were just as shocked as anybody else and you are confident that you will be found innocent when all the facts are in. Okay, now to a point that I have to deal with, I am the lawyer for the investment firm that puts me in a terrible spot. Since I work for the company, I represent the company. The company is now out of business, and the boss is gone. I don't know if I will be able to use my retainer from the company to defend you. Or do I use it to find you guilty? Without Shela around to ask and nothing in writing, I need to do some very hard thinking and studying to get answers for you guys. I will be as much help as I can because you guys have been so nice to me over the last few years. I know from what I've seen you're not going to be able to afford me or anyone else for that matter. All the bank accounts, business and personal, are frozen—pending all this litigation—and all your assets: housing, cars, boats, jewelry, expensive clothing, and pretty much all the nice electronics you own too.

It would easily be a toss-up on who was the most shocked by the news. Malenda just about passed out, and Terrance was just thinking about the car his parents just bought him when he got his license. Dave was preoccupied with just wanting to get his own hide out of jail! In fact, it's amazing how many different perspectives there are for the same situation depending on where you are. Malenda and Terrance could only think about their situations and not about where Dave is now.

Ted had several things to try to deal with, and the family had even more very serious life-changing things to try to figure out—where to live, how to pay their bills and employees.

Over the next week or so, some info come to the surface about the possible whereabouts of Super Shela. The charity that she was supposed to be sending money to didn't really exist, but it did have a numbered account. The trail got ice-cold from there, but every lead can take you closer to where you want to be. When Malenda called her main employee at the charity, she just got her voice mail because Shela was just using her for a way to hide the money trail. Running a fake charity is difficult, to say the very least, but Shela knew just how to stay far enough out of the limelight to get away with the ultimate scheme. Between the investment fraud and the fake charity, Shela had it covered from one end to the other. Having two such perfectly placed, well-meaning patsies was the perfect storm, and Shela rode the wave for a lot longer than she had anticipated.

Ted was able to find a way to be able to help Dave and his family and still hold his contract with the investment firm at the same time. Yes, it's riding a fine legal line; finding the real fraudster and protecting the innocent employees would be what he's actually getting paid for.

Over the next few weeks, Ted did lots of fan dangling and word mixing, but he was able by God's grace to make a deal with the feds—it takes God's grace to make a deal with those guys—to get Dave out of jail, pending trial and compiling evidence. Of course, there is a massive drawback to the short-term freedom. The family would have to forfeit their passports and agree to sell all the properties that could have been bought with the ill-gotten gains. In short, they need to sell their house, cars, furniture, jewelry, RVs, and just about everything worth any value to help pay off some of the debt issued to the defrauded investors.

By the time the deal was signed and Dave was out of jail, Malenda and Terrance were beyond ready to get out of town. Malenda had been in touch with Uncle Frank up in Oregon because she knew he had some room since his wife passed away about five years ago. Frank had been bugging Dave to come up and visit over the last couple of years. Dave wasn't into the whole visit my brother thing mostly because UF had become one of those Bible thumpers a couple of years ago, and he wanted to help Dave and his family get a real relationship with God so they wouldn't burn for eternity with Satan in hell. That wasn't the news that Dave wanted to hear when he got out of jail: Hey, your Bible thumper brother said we could move in with him where hopefully nobody will know our backgrounds up in Oregon.

UF used to be the hard-liven, hard-partying guy until he met his wife; Ann was her name.

Ann was the you're not gonna get over on me kind of woman. UF was definitely not the cave-in kind of guy either. In fact, when they met, it made World War 2 look like a playground squabble. Little by little, Ann wore him down. UF never gave up his I'm a real man attitude, but when Ann gave her life to God, he was about as stubborn as he used to be before he met her. Ann told and showed the gospel to UF for a couple of years unsuccessfully—at least that's what she thought—when she died in a car crash when she and her friend were hit by a drunk driver in a semitruck. Ann's friend, Hanna, that was with her lived. And Frank was very resentful—that is, until he finally gave his life to God.

As UF soon learned after giving his life to God, so much of what Ann wanted him to change in his life meant more than he could ever believe!

Ann was just a real fun-loving woman. At times, she could really get on UF's nerves with What makes it okay for you to do that, Frank? or Do you think that would make God happy? If you think about it even after you're saved, those question can still get to you!

On the way home from a woman's Bible study, Ann and Hanna were just innocently crossing an intersection when a semitruck with an intoxicated driver didn't stop, didn't slow down, didn't even want to stop after hitting Ann's car. The driver was found guilty and sentenced to twenty years for vehicular homicide and fought that it was not his fault even!

The whole thing was so overwhelming in a huge way. The truck driver was dragging out the trial and saying that if Ann and Hanna hadn't been at the Bible study, Ann would still be alive and Hanna would not have been hurt either! All this going on just put UF into his own little world. He quit his job working for Flower—I mean Bear. This made Bear very happy—not really. For several months, UF just became a hermit. The members of Ann's church would come by and just do their best to witness to him and tell him how much they really missed her too. After a whole year, the issues had got a lot out of hand. UF had just been sitting on the life—or death—insurance payout money he didn't even think about it.

Emma—yes, the guy—had started getting to know UF and had seen a lot of his work and was really taken back with the quality of work and great innovative design ideas. Emma talked with UF about doing some of his own work and building a shop out in his backyard. Mostly the talking was about UF's eternal soul and where it's on its way to. The others needed jobs building cars, and they just happened to be listed on—of all places—Craigslist. On top of all that, both of them were Christians! Samuel came from a background of being told that he needed to work on Sundays and listen to so much foul language, especially taking the Lord's name in vain. Samuel was the last person that anybody would peg for a custom car builder, being lanky like a string bean. The other worker's name is Sam. So as not to confuse anybody, UF asked if either one of them had a nickname they wouldn't mind going by. Before UF could even get the words out, Samuel said, They called me Dork at my last job. They used it as a derogatory nickname, but I would feel blessed if you guys would call me that!

Sam said, I will go with that because I used to be called Dam, instead of Sam, and I am sure there is no way to make that cool! Sam came from the background. For the last year, he listened to his boss call him Dam: Dam, take the garbage out. Dam, where are you? Dam, move your butt. We need you to go get some parts.

Sam did not have a chance to show the type of work that he had spent years learning and practicing with his dad. Just to give you a brief overview of his shop setup, we have the owner, runner, designer UF. Then the one to make the parts to fit or even build the needed parts too is Sam. Samuel, or Dork, is the guy to build the drivetrain and suspensions systems too. The one that seems to be a little hard to figure out is the old man named Emma. We're not sure how old he is, but we just know he is old! He is the one that does most of the finding the old barn finds and talks the owners into selling them to us. He does it so subtly sometimes I did not know we even bought it! What God puts together, let no man tear apart!

Chapter 2

Next

Now that you're pretty caught up with the storyline so far, we can move on.

Malenda and Terrance started the terrible ordeal of getting things ready to move. Ted was there saying what needed to be said but not what they wanted to hear! All the expensive clothing, jewelry, household goods, furniture, cars, and, the hardest of them all, the house and bank accounts!

Ted can do some amazing dealmaking when he went through all the financial records to see when things were bought or acquired so he could hopefully say what they can and can't keep. He found out just how much they had grown financially over the last five years. Ted had arranged with the court for a stipend for them to live on during the time before the trial; it wasn't much! When Ted told them the amount, it was the scream heard around the block! When Ted got to the parts about sell the house, sell your furs, sell your paintings, sell your sculptures and figurines, sell your designer furniture, sell your designer clothes, sell your stocks and bonds—of course, only the legitimate ones—sell your nonrefundable contracted memberships, sell your boat, sell your ATVs and, last but not the least, your cars, none of them liked the last part about the cars. But the most hurt was probably Terrance because he had just got his license and was really enjoying driving so much! Then again anybody that owned a loaded Saleen Mustang convertible would be fit to be tied in the same situation too! The transportation was one of the deals Ted made. The deal is that for getting around to get to the market and other appointments, Dave and Malenda would be able to sell their multiple nice vehicles to buy a reasonably priced quality transportation car and give the rest to Ted to add to the immense payback. The other part of the deal was for Terrance who couldn't have known much about what was going on to be able to do basically the same deal but with assistance.

It was all about getting a U-Haul rental truck and loading up the stuff they know they can keep. Even before that, the car situation was a necessary evil to deal with and was one of the hardest things to do! Because of the time constraints, getting the most money out of the cars was not going to happen. Ted called a couple of out-of-state auctions to see what were the best numbers he could get. It was surprising, the amounts he was told; unfortunately, most of the money would be because of the story of who owned them.

When it came down to selling Terrance's car, Ted had just gone out to look at it when he had seen a teenager checking it out, and he said, What are you doing there?

The kid said, I wanted to talk to Terrance about his car.

Ted asked him, Do you know him?

Yes, he replied.

Ted told him the car was for sale if he wanted to buy it.

Oh.

Ted asked, What is your name?

The boy said, I'm Manuel, and my dad is Ommeral, the gardener for them. Terrance and I have talked quite a bit over the last few years. He knows that I would love to have this car. He told me it was for sale, but I would have to talk with Ted. That must be you.

Yep, that's me. Since you seem to know the car pretty well already, why don't you help me with the pricing on it? What it's worth and what is worth to me are probably not the same. What about the celebrity factor? It's Terrance's car, not Dave's car. Touché, so did he tell you about the deal that he needs to get as much out of it and buy him another car?

Yes, he did. In fact, I've got a car to try to trade him and then put some dinero with it.

Well, what have you got? Maybe we can work something out.

They walk around the house, and Ted gasps! There it is, a 1976 Mustang 2.

Before you say anything, Ted, it was a one little old lady owner. I bought it from her.

Ted seemed to feel a little better about that, so he took a much closer look at it.

I bought it from one of my dad's customers. She had it sitting in her garage for about ten years and wanted to give it to her grandson, but he died before that could happen. So she made me a deal to take great care of it and, of course, $2,000 too!

Ted thought they might make a deal after all when he had seen the odometer saying 10,000 miles on it. Has Terrance seen this car yet?

Yes, he has.

Does he want it?

Well, he wants me to get his play toy, and he knows that I love this car as much, if not more than he loves his. But does he want it? That's why he's not here, seeing his Saleen baby drive away. No matter what is left here, it's not going to be easy! I know Terrance will do what's needed when it's needed. I don't know exactly why, but I just have a piece about it.

Okay, what kind of dinero are you talking plus your Mustang 2?

About $5,000-plus.

Ted stops him and says, You have a nice Mustang, but $5,000 is a lot low, and I'm sure the court would say, ‘No way, José!' If you want to make this trade, you need to at least double that! At that price, I'll do my best to make this deal happen for you.

Manuel makes a call. Dad, remember when you said you would make me a loan to get a nice car to drive?

Yes, his dad says.

Well, Terrance is having to sell his Saleen, and I'm here with my Mustang 2 trying to make a deal. But I'm short on cash. I offered the car and $5,000 and he told me to double the cash and he would try to push it through.

His dad said, Let me talk with him.

Okay. Ted, this is my dad, Ommeral.

Hello. Are you the one doing the bill paying for the estate?

Yes. I'm Ted.

Good. My son really wants the car, and he has saved since he bought the Mustang 2 to fix it up, and he is willing to give that all up to get the Saleen. So is there anything you can do to make that happen?

Well, I told him ten grand and his Mustang 2 and I would try to get it pushed through. Why did you want to know if I was the one in charge of the bill paying for the estate?

Dave is a good man, but when all this happened, he still owed me for a lot of work. Is there any way I can just get that money put towards Manuel getting that car?

How much does he owe you?

Let's see, about $6,400 rounded off, of course.

Well, now you're talking. If you make the bill $5,000 and his $5,000 I'll make it happen! Deal!

Manuel asks Ted, Well, is the car mine?

Ted says, Tell your dad ‘thank you'!

This made Terrance happy and unhappy all at the same time! Malenda and Dave tried to comfort Terrance by showing him what they got, a 2002 Honda Odyssey.

When they all got their new cars and lost all their stuff, it was very easy to get the moving truck and move on down the road! To do the driving, Dave and Malenda would split driving the moving truck hauling a trailer for the van, and Terrance would get to drive his new low-mileage Mustang 2.

For a family of three moving from a nice-sized mansion, it was surprising how small the U-Haul was. Feeling totally ashamed as they drove out of the driveway, they were reminded why they were leaving. The line of media with their cameras videoing and then some of the people that they had thought of as friends were all yelling questions at them too.

They had filled up the van on the trailer with their need-to-use items—you know, clothes and toiletries for the long trip. Terrance was enjoying the nice long drive. He would have enjoyed driving the Saleen Mustang more! Dave and Malenda actually started to somewhat relax once they got farther away from the house, bills, employees, and just the high stress of all the life they had. Dave had actually cracked a joke; that by itself made Malenda laugh. At the first motel stop, the mood was surprisingly light. They stopped at a restaurant for some of that foodstuff and some over-the-table talk. The food was not what they were used to, but it really helped to be a reminder of the things that really matter, just like the driving a U-Haul truck towing a minivan with all your stuff in it!

When they finished, they actually just started laughing, and none of them knew why even! Considering what they are in the middle of all of them, just laughing is probably the last rational thing anybody would expect.

After all the phone calls, texts, and e-mails, Ted had them get new phones and e-mail addresses; and he took over answering the e-mails and voice mails and would forward any important stuff. It seemed like a ton of work, but Ted was able to get to keep a large amount of money from his retainer, and just the fame of handling a high-dollar case as this one made all this work worthwhile! When he is able to prove them innocent, his business will have people knocking down his door!

*****

UF was so excited to see his brother again that he was cleaning up his house and even cleaning out the basement for his nephew!

Dave, Malenda, and Terrance did not see it, feel it, or even notice it but God was doing work in their lives to show them about what is important in life.

The last few miles to get to UF's house was a little weird feeling as the major life change finally seemed to be sinking in. Dave and Malenda just kind of looked at each other; then Malenda made the call to UF because Dave was driving—and Dave felt strange about calling his own brother too. She told him they were on the way and would be there in about a half hour.

UF said, I've got it all ready for you guys. I'll see you when you get here.

UF called the crew together and said, My brother is coming, and he and his family all need the Lord. So will you pray with me and for me too? UF prayed that God would work in him and through him to be the help that is needed to bring them into the one-on-one relationship they need, and they all said amen!

The whole situation was going to be new and different for everyone involved—Dave and Malenda going from the semimansion to living with someone else and Terrance living with someone living with someone else. UF is not just another widower living by himself!

When Dave pulls into the driveway, Malenda just sighs and says, I guess this is it. Maybe it won't be so bad! Dave just had that I just eat a dead rat look on his face.

Terrance pulled in behind them and thought, Hey, this isn't so bad.

UF came out of the house pretty much GLOWING. He came over to Dave and just gave him a huge hug. Dave didn't feel too comfortable about that. Of course, that didn't stop UF. Malenda thought it was hilarious. She was happy to see him after not seeing him for so long and just talking on the phone about them coming to live with him. Terrance came around the truck just in time to see UF bear-hugging his dad, and he thought it was hilarious too. Even Dave eventually started laughing too! I guess, as for ways to break the ice, that worked pretty good.

Once they all stopped laughing, UF invited all of them in to sit down and relax. Malenda and Terrance were all over that idea. Dave was more interested in getting the moving truck cleared out and returned.

UF just said, A good break and some refreshments will make everything go a lot faster, and you guys look like you need a short rest.

After a good sit down—not in a vehicle seat—they were in a much better mood, and Dave even said, Yeah, I think you were right about that short break thing. Terrance was still feeling the excitement from doing his first long drive and was on an adrenaline rush.

UF showed them where they would be staying and where their entrance was and then showed Terrance his room. Knowing it could be so much worse, he took it really well! UF gave them some help getting their stuff moved in and then gave directions to the nearest truck return location. Dave said that Malenda and Terrance could stay and get some stuff unpacked if they wanted to while he took the truck back. Both of them thought that was a great idea, and they started digging through the bags and boxes kind of like a buried treasure.

UF walked out with Dave to have a second of talk time with him. Dave wasn't super talkative, but he did say thank you for opening his house to him and his family in this extremely difficult time. UF felt so humbled by what Dave said that he was so choked up that it was hard to get the words out. UF told the truth that God provides what's needed when it's needed. Dave didn't have a lot of room to talk especially right now because he had never done stuff like this before. Malenda and Terrance kind of had a little fun going through and putting stuff on the walls and in places to try to make the place seem a little homey!

When Dave pulled out, UF got a good look at Terrance's Mustang. He was very impressed. Wow, even with the bugs stuck to it, he could see just how nice the car is! He then looked at the odometer, and that answered all his questions about the nice condition. The fact that a youngster actually owned a vintage low-mile Mustang really got his juices flowing, so he went to talk to him about his choice in cars.

On his way in, UF ran into Malenda—not literally—and said what he thought about the Mustang. Malenda shushes him and then quietly tells him how Terrance ended up with the car. UF was so thankful for that info, so he went in with a little different tactic. UF asked, How did that Stang drive? It's super cool!

Terrance told him it drove really nice; but he really, really, really, really missed the Saleen that his parents bought for him.

UF said to Terrance, The Saleen is an awesome car, but you're really kind of limited on what you can do to fix it up. But the Stang you got now, wow, I'll have to show you some of the super cool stuff you can do to personalize it just for you. Well, I'm going upstairs to make some food so when Dave gets back, we can have some dinner and maybe get some sleep too. Oh yeah, I got the cable hooked up down here. It's just basic, but there is full Wi-Fi. Getting their beds set up, they had some not-so-small talk about the new life now on their plate.

While Dave was returning the U-Haul at the return location, the counter worker was having an issue, and he was trying to place where he had heard Dave's name before. He started to ask some kind of personal questions and seemed a little too interested.

Dave tried to limit how much info to tell him. Finally, Dave tried to be tactful not to attract too much attention. He tells the counter guy that it's his own business where he goes and what he does. Is this how you treat all your clients?

The counter person literally takes a step back and says, Hey, calm down. I did not mean nothing! I just wanted to know why someone would leave LA to live here—is all.

Dave just told him that he was tired and stressed from the trip, and he was sorry about bursting out the way he did. Therefore, Dave left to drive the van home. Just to add insult to injury, the tranny starts to slip on the way back to UF's house.

When Dave got back to the house, the tranny was slipping so bad the engine was at 3,500 rpm just to go twenty mph. Dave was fit to be tied. UF heard the van pull up and went to see what's up. Dave was just on the verge of breaking down as he explains how he has got not much money left after the move and paying everything off. UF, trying to calm him down, told him that he would take care of the transmission problem for him as a move-in gift.

Dave just came unglued! Do not give me any of your Christian ‘I'm better than you' charity!

UF wanted to help but didn't think that Dave would react like this! Whoa! UF takes a step back. I'll let you pay it off however you want, but this couldn't come at a worse time for you.

Dave felt really low about now he shared how the counter guy was giving him the fifth degree before the tranny issue.

UF took advantage of Dave's opening up and went straight to the point and said, Hey, I know this wasn't your favorite idea, but you went through with it anyway. A few years ago, this would not have been an option for you either. God made the change in me that I needed. He did it in the last way I would have expected, but He knew it was the only way that would work also! Let's just go in and get some food before it gets cold. We can talk more later.

The food was good; the talk was good. But everybody was tired from driving and moving, so it was time for some good crash-out time!

The next morning was kind of just a get things going morning. There was only one bathroom downstairs, so they all had to share.

UF was up and running early. For whatever reason, he seemed to have a super bounce in his step too. UF asked Dave for his van keys so he could get to work on it so they wouldn't be without transportation on their first day in their new place.

Dave said, You know I want to pay for whatever you do to fix our van, but I'm not really sure when I'll be able to get it paid off. If it's just something as simple as a clogged filter, I would feel like a jerk if I charged you. But if it's more intense, I'll work with you on it, don't worry.

Malenda was concerned about how they are going to pay for things as they come up now. He told her that his friend Hanna would be over later and she could show her around to where to shop and such and such and things and things! Malenda started laughing and thought that such-and-such thing was hilarious!

UF asked Dave and Terrance if they might like to see his shop while he's working on their van. Dave said he would stay and try to help Malenda set things up in the house, but Terrance was all over the idea of seeing the shop.

As they headed out, there was a couple of minutes for small talk when Terrance just came out and asked, Why Dad didn't want to be here?

UF told him the truth about a few years back that he himself didn't even want to be here either, but God put the hurt on him just to show who's in charge. And it's not us! Terrance got the gist of it but was caught off guard and wasn't sure what to say. UF said, Let's just get through today. You've only been here less than a day. We can talk more later.

They pull the van into the shop, and the crew is wondering what is up. UF get out and introduce Terrance to the boys and the old man too.

UF told Dork the van issue, and he knew just what it was. But of course, he said, It would take a little while to get to it. UF said he would get the parts for it if he could put it first in line.

UF asked if Terrance would take him for a ride down to the parts store in his bad Stang. Terrance didn't turn down a chance to drive, but he did say, I don't think it's that BAD.

UF got in and was in shock about how nice it is. Terrance was still stuck on his missing Saleen. UF told him about some things he might have just lying around to fix up the little speedster and maybe once he gets some driving experience under his belt, he might help him soup it up a little.

As they're driving around, UF tells Terrance, Step on it some. It's okay, it's a back street. No one's around.

Terrance takes it up a little, and they both feel some Gs pushing them back in the seat!

Wow, this has some real pickup, UF says. Terrance was pretty surprised too. UF asked, Hey, have you ever taken this out on the strip?

I just got it a couple of days before we left, but I did take the Saleen out a few times. I was afraid of the horsepower that thing had. I never ever opened that thing up, and I still got 11's. UF told him that if he wanted to learn about dragging that, he might be able to help him with that.

They get the parts back to the shop. Dork is able to get it back together, and the test drive went well.

*****

As Dave starts to somewhat relax just a little, he gets a call from Ted.

Hello, guys. Are you moved in yet?

Ha-ha. That's not very funny, Ted. Do you have any good news for us PLEASE!

Yes and no. I met with the person chosen to be the receiver for your case. The good, it's a she. And the bad is she's a she! She had met Malenda at a charity event and thought she was very nice but now thinks she is a blankety-blank, not very nice person! I have told her that I don't believe the things that have been said about you. The good part is she is open to listen when I can back up what I say. The bad is that she is under a super amount of pressure to make the investors whole again, and she is known for doing just that too. The FBI and CIA are on the hunt for Shela, but it isn't looking good. They found more stuff at her house that implicates Malenda too! Shela makes whale blubber look like sandpaper. She's so slick! For some unknown reason, I just have a strange peace that she'll get caught and the government will see things for what they are. I'll keep you up-to-date, but I would just have you guys try to leave it as far in the past as you can, and I'll talk to you later.

Malenda was now starting to feel stressed out, and it was up to Dave to try to comfort her.

UF came in right after the call and didn't know the new twist, so when he gave them the good news about their van being an easy fix, Malenda just started crying and went to her room. UF wondered if he had just told her he ran over her cat or something. Dave filled him in a little, so UF said, The best I can do is pray! Dave was taken back that UF didn't rattle off some stuff. UF said, God knows everything, and once He's in your heart, that's when peace will make all the difference.

Dave just says, I got to take care of Malenda and thanks UF.

Meanwhile, back in LA, Ted was hard at work trying to earn the money he was getting. He was digging through paperwork and computer documents to try to match up with Deneese's receiver's books. The whole idea of anything matching up was about as likely as the sun rising tomorrow—the earth going around the sun. Ted was finding that the computer was showing lots of deposits being made to out-of-country bank accounts, not by Shela but by Dave and Malenda instead! He started to make a list of questions to start asking Dave and Malenda when he would be calling them. He was starting to get impressed by Shela's abilities.

Deneese started asking Ted lots of questions about what was going on because the things she was seeing was a giant neon arrow pointing toward Dave and Malenda being the Ponzi scam artists. When Ted showed some of the other stuff on Dave's and Malenda's computers to Deneese, she did start to see some things that showed their computer capabilities were not up to what would be necessary to do what had been done. Deneese finally had more questions than answers about what Shela was thinking when she set all this up.

Ted had seen more and