This story is strictly fiction. If you like this story or don't, please vote. The author would appreciate. Thanks. All rights reserved. JH-1
Setting: An East Texas lake.
Characters:
My daughter, Tammy
My sister, Carol
Myself, Danny
Background:
My wife had decided she wanted her own space, which translated to another man.
Then there was my daughter Tammy.
During the divorce the judge decreed that since Tammy wasn't 18, she would stay with her mother. Tammy made it obvious she did not like the judge's decision.
After the divorce was all over, I was lucky to walk away with my truck, my clothes, my boat and my fishing gear. (I later had to sell my boat to make ends meet.)
I also had a twin sister, Carol, who lived with her husband in a small town in Louisiana.
Now, the story:
A little more than two years had gone by and I was lucky enough to win the lottery. After the government got their cut, I wound up with a little over 15 mil.
I contacted an investment broker and he helped me invest most of it in some stocks that were reasonably safe and paid a good dividend.
His comment was, "Don't get stupid with the money and you won't ever have to worry about running out."
I knew I'd have to spend some money or the government would eat me alive on capital gains.
I put about 2 mil. in the bank. I had always had my eye on a place at an East Texas lake that I wanted. The first thing I did tho, was to go to a Ford dealership and trade my old truck in and buy a really nice, extended cab pick-up, then I headed for the lake.
I drove to the complex where I thought there might be a place for sale. The guard let me in when I told him I was looking for a place to buy and told me where there was a place for sale.
Sure enough, the place I had admired from the lake was the one that was for sale. It was on a large lot that was sort of a corner lakefront.
There was a "For Sale By Owner" sign in the front yard with a phone number on it, so I called it and the man that answered the phone said he would be right there. He drove up and said he had only had the place for sale for about two weeks, then he started showing me the house.
The house was brick, had 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, a large kitchen, a sunken den, large closets everywhere and a huge redwood deck as you walked out the back sliding door. Oh yeah, most of the deck was covered...nice and shady. Part was open to the sun for sunbathing.
All the furniture was to stay with the house. There was a dock and boathouse as well.
The lot itself had a number of oak trees around the house and quite a few pine trees all over the lot.
I said "Mr. Johnson, if you don't mind my asking why are you selling the place?" He started stammering and finally said "Well my wife just didn't like it so we moved." (Little did I know...)
After some dickering with the man we agreed on a price. I pulled out my checkbook and wrote him a check for the whole shebang. The owner had a look like, "Naw, this just ain't happenin." I grinned at him and told him to feel free to call the bank.
He did. When he got off the phone, he said "Well the bank said your check was good. My wife and I have already moved out, so you can take possession immediately. I signed all the necessary papers. He gave me the keys and left, with the check in his hand, shaking his head.
I walked out on the back deck to look at the lake. The view was magnificent. It made me want to go fishing. I walked to the dock / boathouse to look. It was all in good condition with a lift in the boathouse.
The owner had told me I could fish from the dock if I wanted. The dock was covered, so you could fish in the shade.
I just needed to buy me a boat.
I drove back out to the gate where the guard had been told that I had bought the place and he put a sticker on my windshield. I drove out to the main highway and turned left.
I knew there was a boat dealership a short distance down the road. I had bought accessories from them before, so they knew who I was.
I stepped onto their show floor.
The owner saw me come in and said "Hi Danny. What can we do for you today?"
"Well" I said, "I want a new boat"
He grinned and said "OK, we can do that. What kind of boat do you want?"
"Don't you handle Skeeter boats?"
"We do. I have one of their newest 20-ft. models here on the show floor.
I looked at it and it had a trolling motor, two Lowrance depth finders, a 250hp Evenrude outboard motor with a stainless prop, and a lot of other goodies.
"OK, I'll take it, but I want the biggest kick ass trolling motor you sell on it ."
"I think we can do that. Do you have a trade-in?
"No."
How do you want to pay for this? Are you going to finance this?"
"No. I'm going to write you a check, if that's all right. You can call the bank if you want.
He blanched. "You mean you want to pay the whole thing?"
"You got it."
"Uh, let me call your bank. He called the bank, gave them the numbers off the check and they evidently told him the check was good.
"If you're going to pay what might as well be called cash I can cut you a deal on price. What you're wanting is 32,000 dollars, but I'll let you have it for 30,000. As late as it is today, It won't be ready until tomorrow. Are you living here at the lake these days?
"Yes I am."
"OK, you tell me where and I'll just deliver it to you.
"OK." I started telling him where my new place was and how to get there.
"Oh, you bought old man Johnson's place?"
"Uh, yeah."
"I know right where that is. We did work for him several times. It won't take me long to run the boat thru make ready and I'll put it on the lake and to your dock. I'll put the trailer by the house.
"Give me a call when it's ready and I'll be there to meet you." I said.
By then it was after 5 and I was getting hungry. There was a chicken place across the road from the boat dealer, so that's where I headed.
After I ate I drove back down the main highway to the county road where I was to turn.
I noticed a large super market on one corner, so I stopped and stocked up on groceries and beer.
It had gotten dark while I was in the store and when I drove up to my new place a mercury light was burning in front of the garage. I triggered a small pad and the door opened so I could drive right in.
I got all the groceries put up and was sitting at the table having a beer, when my cell phone rang. I answered and it was my ex- wife.
