Rents

Time to collect the rent and off we go...You go to Randy's, John, and I will go to Eleanor and Dan. OK...Knock, knock, knock...Hi, Barbara, sorry I didn't hear you the first time. I was just making the boys a tuna sandwich...Hi, Dan, Where's Eleanor?...She was called to work this morning and won't be home until five....Did she go to see the state representative about your tax situation?...I don't know. Phone her at six....Alright...Here is your rent. It is only $175 today because Donald did not pay his child support for PJ yet, and I was cut two hours of work this week...I am going to get my taxes shifted around next week so that I get to keep more of my check. I only get $226 per week. With this amount, the boys have lost Medicaid so I am going to claim them in a new way so I can keep more of my money and then get them medical insurance for $70 per week. Anyway, I will have the last $25 by Tuesday, or I will give you $225 next week...(OK, Barbara, control yourself. He will have it and you will be able to pay the electric bill by the end of the week.)...COme on in and look at the new books I have. See if there are any you would like...So, Dan, you are really supposed to be destroying all these books, except for a few you are allowed to rescue?...Yes, we cut off the covers and shred them. I want to collect as many as possible to sell at the flea market. I found one Bible almost one hundred years old and Eleanor has taken that. There are other Bibles, too, but I won't sell God's Word. Those I just give away.I went to the flea market last Saturday but one of my front tires burst so I didn't make any money there...Too bad, Dan. Well, I think I will take this biography of Madame Curie. Thanks! I had better go now. Bye! ...Oh, by the way, do you have Jack's check, as well? No, he hasn't received his unemployment check yet, so will pay you on Monday or Tuesday, whenever it comes in...Alright.(He will)...

John, did you get Randy's check? Good. I will go to Elizabeth's house and see whether she has the twenty-five dollars she owes us from last week, an amount she asked us to let her withhold to buy a sofa to furnish her living room...Knock, knock, knock...Hi, Elizabeth. I have come to collect the rent you still owe us...Oh, I told your husband I would give it to you when I pay my next month's rent...I peek in. She does, indeed, have a sofa to lie on, and someone has given her a black and white tv. She is watching cartoons....I feel so bad today...How is your blood sugar? Is your diabetes acting up?...I don't know. I can't afford the strips to test it. I just take my pill each day...Are you lonely, Elizabeth? You look depressed...I'm not really depressed, I just don't know what to do with myself. I don't have gas to go anywhere...Well, bye, Elizabeth. I will be by next week to get the rest of the money. If you don't have it, we will have to collect it for sure the next week, when your disability check comes in...Alright...

Now I will go to Tony's house. I wonder if he has been able to find a job yet...Knock knock knock...Hi, Tony. What is happening?...I am flat out of money. I have gone to all the agencies in town and noone is hiring. I will have to take out a loan from H and R Block. I have done that before. I went into town this morning, but their office was closed. They will be there again Tuesday, so I will give you the rent then....Is this frightening for you, Tony?...No, it is not frightening. I have been here before. But it is stressful. I just hope I can get to town. My car is almost out of gas...But you have food?...Oh, yes. And I can get food stamps...Alright, bye Tony...

And these are all people-at least the healthy ones- who want to work. Many don't, but they do. They were not looking for handouts from us, just stating the facts...What a horrible thing poverty is.