Back In The Orange Grove

The girl in the orange grove who had left it, was now headed back with a husband.  Being so young, at least this was their excuse, they had little money and little plans. And no where to live. After a honeymoon in Disney World and brunch at Olive Garden every afternoon, they headed back to Lutz, Florida.

Granny’s mom had a little apartment Pappy had built attached to their house. It was separated by a screen porch and it sat empty.  She had passed away, and although the apartment needed work, and a one butt bathroom as Granny called it, they offered it to them. They said they could stay there as long as they needed to, but there was a plan from Pappy. If they wanted to put a trailer on a piece of the property…right in the middle of the orange grove and next to her mom and dad, the land was theirs. Was that a deal! And the girl in the orange grove thought life was the way it should be. But it wasn’t even close.

Nate had a job for his father. They would work on mobile homes and move them and sell them. It was hard work in the Florida sun.  Nate’s dad favorite hobby was talking to people. Finances weren’t important. And so many weeks, they had no money for food. The girl in the orange grove got a job. She worked at Nate’s sister’s consignment store. And she loved making the store displays and brides coming in. She made an extra $5 for every gown she sold.

Family was all around them.

They were doing exactly what was expected they should do in life. People never left the orange grove. She knew she wouldn’t either.

But she sure was tired. She had no idea how to cook. And anyway, she only had one camping burner to cook on. She didn’t want to cook in Granny’s kitchen because she always wanted her to use her old grease in the oven. So she would pack up all her ingredients in a picnic basket and walk to her mom’s house. She would cook and pack it back up and when Nate got home and took a shower in their one bedroom bathroom, dinner was served. Usually pork chops. He would later tell her those were the worst pork chops he ever had. She’s glad she didn’t know.

-to be continued

Rachael

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