“It ’ s not like I don’t make decent money, but I just can’t seem to make enough!” Michael said in an angry tone.
“I know Michael. But our promise to Martha will be broken.”
“Honey, the last time I saw Martha was at the hospital the day Nicole was born. We haven’t heard from her since. I am sure she would understand our circumstances. Believe me I am not doing this to profit from Martha’s generosity. I am doing it to avoid having to file bankruptcy and thus lose the house regardless,” he replied.
“What are we going to do with the extra money we get from the sale? We already know we can sell the property for 10 times what we paid for it,” she asked.
“Well, maybe we can find a buyer that will try to restore the house like we wanted to?” Michael said.
Arianna looked around and saw walls knocked down and flooring ripped up and remembered the 225 things there are to do on the “to do” list. She replied to Michael, “You have got to be joking right?”
Michael also looked around and realized he was dreaming.
“Yeah, I guess you are right. This place is in worse shape now than it was when we bought it.”
“Maybe we should just get our money back and give the rest to Martha. It is really hers, not ours,” Arianna suggested.
“I thought about that too, but I doubt that she would take it. Besides, I don’t think I could look that sweet old lady straight in the eye without feeling totally humiliated for letting her down like this,” Michael said.
“Okay, then how about this. We only take back the money we spent on this house for the purchase and the few improvements we have made. We take the balance and give it to charity. Michael, I cannot live in a life of luxury knowing that money is not rightfully ours and neither can you, whether you realize that right now or not,” Arianna stated.
“You’re right. I wouldn’t be happy either. I wanted to make it on my own. It was hard enough accepting her reduced selling price. I can’t take the profits from the sale of this house and live with myself. Okay, profits to charity and our money back to us, so we can get a nice house in a less posh, but still nice suburb. We can surely find a house for around $140,000.00 that will be just perfect and the taxes won’t be $2500.00 a month,” Michael said.
“Agreed,” said Arianna.
As they got up from the kitchen table, Arianna started to cry. Michael hugged her tightly and shed a tear himself.
“I know this house is a real dump, but I still love it to death,” she said.
“I know honey, so do I,” said Michael.
They shut off the lights as they went through the house. Arianna picked up Nicole and walked upstairs to the baby’s room. Michael closed and locked the front door. He was tired and despondent. He would be happy to give up the profits of the property just to relief some of his stress created by the financial burden that also came along with it.
****************************************
The Following Morning
July 24th
8:00 a.m.
“Esposito Real Estate Brokers, how can I help you?” said the voice on the other end of the phone.
Michael replied (from the phone in the kitchen, as he sat at the kitchen table), “I would like to sell my house.”
The receptionist of the real estate office replied, “One moment please, and I will have someone assist you right away. Please hang on.”
Michael continued to drink his coffee and waited. After several minutes of “on-hold” music, he was greeted in the following manner.
“This is Thomas Clark, I understand you would like to sell your property?”
“Yes, I need to put my home up on the market and sell it as soon as possible,” Michael replied.
“Well we will do our best Mr.?” Thomas asked.
“It’s Mr. Carter, but
“I know Michael. But our promise to Martha will be broken.”
“Honey, the last time I saw Martha was at the hospital the day Nicole was born. We haven’t heard from her since. I am sure she would understand our circumstances. Believe me I am not doing this to profit from Martha’s generosity. I am doing it to avoid having to file bankruptcy and thus lose the house regardless,” he replied.
“What are we going to do with the extra money we get from the sale? We already know we can sell the property for 10 times what we paid for it,” she asked.
“Well, maybe we can find a buyer that will try to restore the house like we wanted to?” Michael said.
Arianna looked around and saw walls knocked down and flooring ripped up and remembered the 225 things there are to do on the “to do” list. She replied to Michael, “You have got to be joking right?”
Michael also looked around and realized he was dreaming.
“Yeah, I guess you are right. This place is in worse shape now than it was when we bought it.”
“Maybe we should just get our money back and give the rest to Martha. It is really hers, not ours,” Arianna suggested.
“I thought about that too, but I doubt that she would take it. Besides, I don’t think I could look that sweet old lady straight in the eye without feeling totally humiliated for letting her down like this,” Michael said.
“Okay, then how about this. We only take back the money we spent on this house for the purchase and the few improvements we have made. We take the balance and give it to charity. Michael, I cannot live in a life of luxury knowing that money is not rightfully ours and neither can you, whether you realize that right now or not,” Arianna stated.
“You’re right. I wouldn’t be happy either. I wanted to make it on my own. It was hard enough accepting her reduced selling price. I can’t take the profits from the sale of this house and live with myself. Okay, profits to charity and our money back to us, so we can get a nice house in a less posh, but still nice suburb. We can surely find a house for around $140,000.00 that will be just perfect and the taxes won’t be $2500.00 a month,” Michael said.
“Agreed,” said Arianna.
As they got up from the kitchen table, Arianna started to cry. Michael hugged her tightly and shed a tear himself.
“I know this house is a real dump, but I still love it to death,” she said.
“I know honey, so do I,” said Michael.
They shut off the lights as they went through the house. Arianna picked up Nicole and walked upstairs to the baby’s room. Michael closed and locked the front door. He was tired and despondent. He would be happy to give up the profits of the property just to relief some of his stress created by the financial burden that also came along with it.
****************************************
The Following Morning
July 24th
8:00 a.m.
“Esposito Real Estate Brokers, how can I help you?” said the voice on the other end of the phone.
Michael replied (from the phone in the kitchen, as he sat at the kitchen table), “I would like to sell my house.”
The receptionist of the real estate office replied, “One moment please, and I will have someone assist you right away. Please hang on.”
Michael continued to drink his coffee and waited. After several minutes of “on-hold” music, he was greeted in the following manner.
“This is Thomas Clark, I understand you would like to sell your property?”
“Yes, I need to put my home up on the market and sell it as soon as possible,” Michael replied.
“Well we will do our best Mr.?” Thomas asked.
“It’s Mr. Carter, but
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