Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: ONEROUS (03/02/17)
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TITLE: Shaky Courage | Previous Challenge Entry
By Karen Dick
03/08/17 -
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Stacks of newspapers had blocked our entry, and continued into the living room. Magazines, junk mail, and plastic bags covered the furniture and floor.
“This is an onerous task. I’m not sure where to begin,” I murmured.
“I don’t know if I can do this.” Janet’s words were muffled behind her hand.
“I don’t think we have a choice. Who else would do it?” Our eyes locked.
Janet sidestepped piles of magazines, and stopped in the center of the room. I followed, and then with hesitation, entered the kitchen.
“Oh, no,” I moaned. Mounds of disposable food containers covered the table. Dirty dishes littered the counters, and filled the sink. Pots and pans growing mold, sat haphazardly on the stove.
Janet joined me in the kitchen. She groaned, and with a shake of her head, pulled open the refrigerator door. Immediately, she slammed it shut as putrid smells overwhelmed us.
I held my breath, and peered at Janet. “How did Mother let it get so bad?”
She looked down. “I should have checked on her more. I didn’t realize…” Her voice was soft, and a tear slid down her cheek.
I wrapped my arms around her. “I’m to blame too. We have our own lives and families.”
“Maybe she was trying to tell us she needed us.” Janet pulled away, took a tissue from her pocket, and blew her nose.
“Well, I don’t know,” I answered, “but I do know, there’s not a lot of time to clean this up. We can’t sell the house in this condition.”
We continued our tour. Various papers, clothes, and shoes were strewn about in the bedroom. Black mold, in the bathroom, had crawled up the shower wall and across the ceiling. Sheets of paint had peeled off the walls.
“I have to get out of here.” Janet stumbled down the hall, and out the door. I followed close behind.
She stopped with her face in her hands and cried, “Where do we start?”
“With prayer.” I took her hands in mine. “Lord, we are sorry if we neglected Mother. Please help us with this burdensome task. We cannot do this alone.” I looked at her and sighed deeply. “Let’s get to work.”
Once equipped with tools, we re-entered our mother’s filthy house. Armed with rubber gloves, face masks, bleach, and garbage bags; we were ready.
Janet tackled the kitchen while I hauled boxes of newspapers through the house, and stacked them outside. As I lifted the last box onto a pile, I heard a rustling at the end of the patio. I froze in place. From underneath a heap of trash, a mouse scurried out. I darted into the kitchen.
“Yikes!” I screamed as I slammed the door.
Janet dropped garbage in a container, and stared at me. “What’s wrong now?”
“I’m done out there.” My knees shook as I retreated to a different room.
Fatigue overcame me as I entered my mother’s bedroom. I tripped over a pile of clothes getting to the side of the bed. As I yanked open the top drawer of the side table, tissues and random receipts popped out. With a groan, I reached in and grabbed them by handfuls, and dropped them into a garbage bag.
Then I came across a large manila envelope. On the front was written: To Debbie and Janet. I opened it and pulled out a letter. My dear girls, I am pleased that you found this envelope. I want to express my apologies for the enormous mess I left to you. I realize I was not a very good housekeeper.
I rolled my eyes. “That’s an understatement.”
You should know that you don’t have to clean. I saved some money for you, and you will see the amount on the second letter in this envelope. I love you both very much, Mother.
I slid the second letter out. It was from her attorney. My hand shook, and I drew in a breath.
“Thank you, Lord.” Then I called to Janet, “You can stop cleaning now!”
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