Historical September 1985 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Joe and Peggy Birchbark had looked at fifty-one houses.
They had each house’ listed on a 3 x 5 card, along with notes such as “tiny yard,’• “no real spare bedroom,” “rooms not big enough.” When the Parkview house came on the market, their real estate agent had urged them to see it right away.
Once inside, Peggy groaned. “There are so many stairs. I can’t imagine living with three floors and a basement.” Pregnant with their third child, she stood catching her breath on the landing. Joe grinned. “You won’t be pregnant forever.” Peggy rolled her eyes and continued up the stairs. “It needs some repair here and there,” Joe told the agent as he ran his hand along the broken floor tiles in the bathroom. “And this toilet needs to be replaced.” Amy and Jason fingered the stained glass window next to the sink. “I like it,” Peggy said. “The house, that is. I think a house with room for five and a half people in the bathroom is terrific.” So they moved.
And moved and moved.
When the last of the boxes had been brought in, the family collapsed in the living room with Church’s chicken. “This is a great house, Dad,” Amy said. “Did you know there’s a hole in my closet that looks into your bedroom?” Joe shook his head. “No. Guess I’ll put that on the fix-it list.” Jason looked up. “Can Amy and I try and catch some of the mice in the crawl space? We’d keep them in a cage and take good care of them.” “What mice?” Peggy asked, losing her appetite. “We saw the droppings,” Amy said.
She wiped her face. “I’m done. Let’s go out, Jason.” The two of them jumped up and ran out the front door. “We’ll go around and stay in the backyard,” Amy called over her shoulder. “I promise we’ll stay out of the poison ivy.” Joe and Peggy looked at each other and then around the room at the boxes. “Maybe it is too big,” she said. “Maybe it’s too old. We’ll be working on this house for a year.” Joe pulled out his list. “Maybe five years,” he said.
The doorbell buzzed and both of them got up.
The woman gave them a smile. “Hello,” she said. “I’m Mrs. Toadsly and I live next door.” She held out a small sack. “Here’s a little present for you.
Some wine for you and cookies for the children.
By the way, I saw them talking to some kids on the sidewalk. Don’t worry about them. No, I can’t come in.
I know you’re tired.
My husband and I will invite you over in a couple of days.
Welcome to the neighborhood.” Peggy took the bag and the woman hurried away. “Well,” said Joe, pulling out the wine, “the house may be too big and too old, but I think we’re going to like the neighborhood.”
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, September 1985.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1985_09.pdf, printed page(s) 4; PDF page(s) 4.
