When Brielle arrived at the nearby grocery store, Ruby’s Mad Dash Market, to pick up three packs of soft drinks, she noticed a woman who seemed familiar and looked exactly her age. Then suddenly, it hit her!

“Oh, my goodness! Raina?” Brielle called.

The strange lady turned around and sure enough, it was Raina, who had, luckily, been one of Brielle’s two trusted friends during high school. Like Brielle, Raina had also been bullied in school. The woman looked at Brielle.

“Well, you look familiar, but I can’t remember who you are,” Raina told her.

“I’m Brielle, from high school,” Brielle reminded her.

Raina’s eyes widened with shock at first, then she smiled.

“Brielle! Oh, my goodness! When did you get back!” she burst in excitement.

“About three weeks ago,” Brielle answered.

Raina and Brielle hugged.

“My God! It’s so good to see you again! How’ve you been?” Raina gushed.

“Great!”

“Now, you do know the class has got a 20-year reunion coming up. Right?”

“I didn’t know.”

“Yes. Actually, it’s going to be more of a multi-class reunion. The classes of 1999 to 2003. Are you coming?”

Reuniting with Her Best Friend from High School

“Nah! I don’t think so. It’ll probably be packed with people I’d rather not ever see again.”

“Oh, come on, Brielle. I’ll go if you go. I think most of them have grown up a little, I think. And if not, it’ll give you and me some time to catch up. There’s no law that says we have to hang with any of them.”

“Mmmm. Give me some time to think about it.”

After much cajoling, Raina managed to get Brielle to agree to go to the reunion with her.

When Brielle arrived back home with the drinks, Grandma Bennett had also arrived to have a look at Brielle’s new house.

“It’s absolutely adorable! You have a wonderful home, Brielle. Now, you and the kids can have a real home and live in peace for a change,” Grandma Bennett gushed.

Brielle hugged her grandma.

“I know, Grandma! And I’m so excited!”

Brielle passed out the drinks and the family visited until late. The night turned into a huge celebration as Brielle turned on her old Pioneer stereo, which was still working after thirty years.

Grandma Bennett had brought a platter of her to-die-for spicy fried chicken and homemade sour cream-flavored mashed potatoes with chives. She also had brought a pan of her scrumptious homemade buttermilk biscuits.

Upcoming Twentieth Class Reunion

Brielle’s mother and father brought a pot of greens, corn on the cob, and a cooked ham. As they all sat at the tables on the patio and ate, Brielle’s mother, Marcelle, spoke up.

“So, do you have any job prospects, Brielle?” she asked.

“I have a few,” Brielle answered, “I have an interview at the Boot Factory Tuesday morning. And they pay pretty good. They start out at eighteen dollars per hour. It’s not what I’m used to making in California, but the cost of living is a lot cheaper here, so, that’s a good thing,” Brielle said.

“Brielle, it’s about time you got a real job instead of dancing around half-naked in some club,” Grandma Bennett chimed in.

“Aaaa-MEN!” Brielle’s father agreed.

“Oh, come on, ya’ll. Not that again,” Brielle groaned.

“Sweetie, we love you and we know that you’re better than that. You’re smart, you’re creative- you got a good head on your shoulders,” Marcelle assured her daughter with a smile.

“Well, don’t worry. It’s not something I plan to do again. Believe me, dancing in gentleman’s clubs isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. And to be honest, you all, I never liked having to dance for a living. That job can be downright dangerous! I know one woman who was raped and murdered when a deranged customer followed her home one night. After that, I started planning my exit and my return home to my family.” Brielle admitted, “Before, I had been under the false belief that my looks were the only thing I had going for me, but after the murder and, as I’ve gotten older, I realize that there’s more to me than that and that I’m good for so much more,” Brielle admitted.

Turning Over a New Leaf

Although Brielle was optimistic about the future of herself and her children back home in Tennessee, she’d never worked in a factory before and the thought of it made her a little nervous. It was fear of the unknown. How would she fare working in a stifling factory as opposed to a strip club? She knew that the stage in those clubs could get pretty hot some nights due to all the lights and the exertion while dancing. However, the heat in a factory was much worse, so she’d been told.

“It may sound strange, but many champions are made champions by setbacks.”

– Bob Richards –

“Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.”

– Arnold Schwarzenegger –

Thirty minutes later, Petunia led Brielle into her office and Brielle sat in front of her desk. Petunia typed a few keys on the computer and the copier began running. Once the copier stopped, Petunia took the newly copied papers from the copier and sat back down, shuffling the papers. Brielle leaned forward.

“Would you take three hundred thousand dollars cash? Today?” Brielle asked politely.

Petunia’s eyes widened with shock.

“Come again?”

Brielle repeated the question.

“Wow! It’s not every day that we get a customer with kind of offer…or with that kind of money lying around to pay for a house outright.” Petunia replied, astonished.

“Well? Would you take it?”

Stan chuckled and scoffed before leaning back in his chair and folding his arms.

“If you’ve got that kind of cash laying around, you bet your sweet bottom dollar we’ll take it.” He said with a hint of sarcasm and hilarity.

Disbelief

Brielle flashed Stan a dirty look, then looked at Petunia. Petunia glared at Stan and mouthed, “shut up.” Stan quickly clammed up.

“Very well.” Brielle said as she opened her billfold and pulled out a cashier’s check in the amount of three hundred thousand dollars and handed it to Petunia.

Because Brielle had close to a million dollars saved up in a private bank account with only her name on the account, she was able to buy and pay for a house and ten acres of land in the country. While in California, Brielle had learned that with cash, you could always get superb deals! She knew that realtors were notorious for jumping through hoops to get that cold hard cash.

Judging from their demeaner, Brielle knew that Stan and Petunia Early, who were former classmates, hadn’t seen her in so long, they hadn’t recognize who she was. That would prove later to be a huge plus for Brielle.

Although Brielle knew who they were, she kept quiet about it. She wasn’t in any hurry to tell anyone in Thomasville who she was. Although they would all find out sooner or later, for now, she preferred to keep the fact that she’d gone to school with the two realtors quiet, since they were also two of her former bullies.

A Shocking Proposition

The asking price of the house was three hundred, fifty thousand, but with cash, Brielle was able to talk them down fifty thousand dollars. The two realtors agreed, took the cash, and signed over the deed before handing Brielle the keys to the house.

Later that afternoon, when Brielle arrived back at her grandmother’s house and announced the good news, both Jane and Olivia squealed with joy. Baby Kennedy sat in her highchair and babbled “na-na-na-na” as Grandma Bennett held a tiny spoon of baby food for Kennedy to take a bite.

“So, when do we move in?” Jane asked.

“I start moving our things tomorrow. We won’t move in until I buy our furniture and get the place situated.” Brielle told her.

Over the next two weeks, Brielle bought a newer-used BMW, new furniture, and electronics. And with the help of Grandma Bennett and her brothers Jesse, Joey, and Paul, she moved all the new furniture and what little furniture she’d come back with into the house.

As the adults worked hard, Baby Kennedy gurgled as she lay in her playpin on the patio. Jane and Olivia played fetch with Bandit, each taking turns throwing a rubber ball for the dog to run and catch.

Moving In and Getting Settled

The large collie loyally took the ball into his mouth, then ran back to the girls and dropped the ball in front of them. He then sat down and barked playfully at them, waiting for them to grab the ball and throw it again.

Jane grabbed the ball, then threw it again. Bandit took off after it.

The brothers also built a nice doghouse in the backyard, for Bandit. And the cousins; Tim, James, and Jerome, came and built a treehouse in the huge oak tree for Jane and Olivia.

By the time the work was done, the sun was getting low in the sky. Grandma Bennett, the brothers, cousins, and kids were all resting on the patio and sipping tea as they talked. Brielle got up.

“Would anyone like some soft drinks?” She asked.

“Sure!” Jesse chirped, “I could sure use a nice, cold can of co’cola!”

“Me too!” Jane added.

“Alright. Wait here while I make a run to the store and pick up a few packs of sodas.” Brielle told them, and she went into the house, grabbed her purse and keys, then left.

“You must bear losses like a soldier, the voice told me, bravely and without complaint, and just when the day seems lost, grab your shield for another stand, another thrust forward. That is the juncture that separates heroes from the merely strong.”

– Margaret George –

“The oak fought the wind and was broken, the willow bent when it must and survived.”

– Robert Jordan –

When Brielle arrived at the house the next day, Petunia Early, one of the realtors, was waiting in her car, parked in the driveway. Brielle had hired two independent inspectors to inspect the house after her first contact with the real estate company. Now that she knew that there were no cracks in the foundation and other issues with the house, Brielle was ready to tour the house.

When Brielle pulled up, Petunia got out of her car and the two women shook hands. Brielle recognized her immediately, she was formerly Petunia Iverson, one of her old classmates from high school.

Brielle had remembered her to be a passive-aggressive bully and had had many catfights with her. She wondered if Petunia had recognized her because it had been many years since she’d last seen her and Brielle’s appearance had changed over the years. Instead of the toothpick-skinny, dark haired, eyeglasses-wearing, geeky look she’d sported back in high school, Brielle was now a blonde who wore contact lenses and had an hourglass-shaped figure.

“Are you ready to go look inside?” Petunia asked excitedly.

“Absolutely.” Brielle answered.

Great Prospects

The house was a one story, light greyish-green, ranch-style home with a large front porch and huge picture window. It was a lovely-looking home that looked spacious and cozy. The house had a chimney, so Brielle knew it had a fireplace and she loved fireplaces.

The house also had a huge front and back yard with a shop in the back. It also had lots of trees and a white picket fence lined the property line of the three-acre estate. There were granny smith apple trees and plum trees in the back yard. There was a huge oak tree in the center of the backyard. There were also pecan trees. One of the pecan trees had an old tire swing tied to one of its huge branches. There was more than enough yard for the kids to play in.

Farther up the driveway stood a garage that was separate from the house and a cobblestone walkway that led from the garage to the side door of the house.

So far, Brielle loved what she saw outside. The two women walked up four cement steps to the porch. Petunia took the key, unlocked the door, and led Brielle inside the house.

A Home of Her Very Own

Brielle walked inside to see a specious living room and kitchen which were only separated by a long counter. The kitchen was big enough to be an eat-in kitchen and had a breakfast nook. She slowly made her way into the kitchen and looked at the appliances, opening the doors to each.

Petunia spoke up.

“As you can see, you have brand-new, stainless-steel appliances. A double-door refrigerator with icemaker. A dishwasher, stove, and built-in double oven. All are self-cleaning.” She informed Brielle.

Light beige carpet provided plushy softness to the living room floor and the kitchen had beautifully tiled floors. There was plenty of cabinet space, a pantry in the kitchen, and a door on the east wall of the kitchen led to a nice-sized washroom, complete with shelves and cabinets.

Once the two women were finished looking at the living room and kitchen, they went into a cozy-looking den where Brielle got to look at the fireplace and hearth. She loved what she saw.

Liking What She Sees

Once they were done viewing the den, Petunia led Brielle back through the living room, then down the hall. At the end of the hall was a door and when Petunia opened it, she led Brielle into the master suite, which included a large master bedroom, spacious master bath, and walk-in closet.

The bedroom was painted a light grey with white trim and ceiling. It had plenty of windows to let in plenty of sunlight and a set of French doors that led out onto a small deck.

When the ladies left the master suite, they went back into the hall and opened the next door. It was another bedroom not much smaller than the master bedroom but smaller, nevertheless. Brielle got to see the other two rooms which were smaller than the previous bedrooms they’d toured. They then checked out the second bathroom across the hall, which also had plenty of space but was smaller than the master bath.

Next, Petunia led Brielle back through the kitchen and back door and outside onto the back patio. They walked across the back yard to the shop and Brielle looked at the inside. The shop was big enough to park two cars inside and there were plenty of shelves and a fluorescent light overhead.

Ready to Make a Deal

Brielle turned and looked at Petunia.

“What did you say the asking price is?” She asked with a smile.

“Three fifty plus closing costs.” Petunia answered.

“I like it.”

“Great! Let’s go back to the office and we’ll hatch a deal for you.”

“Resilience is very different than being numb. Resilience means you experience, you feel, you fail, you hurt. You fall. But, you keep going.” 

– Yasmin Mogahed –

“No matter how much falls on us, we keep plowing ahead. That’s the only way to keep the roads clear.”

– Greg Kincaid –

“We all have battles to fight. And it’s often in those battles that we are most alive: it’s on the frontlines of our lives that we earn wisdom, create joy, forge friendships, discover happiness, find love, and do purposeful work.”

Eric Greitens