Excerpt

Forty five days Bob has been away from Betty and the only time he has seen her was from the cab of Walts truck when she was working in the diner. After being ordered out in no uncertain terms, Bob has felt some pangs of guilt in not letting Betty know his whereabouts. Even if she should be contemplating a divorce, she has to have my address. I guess I should at least send a card and let her know where to send the papers. We are still married! After much thought, Bob did write a short letter. He apologized for his behavior and told her that he does still love her. He didnt go into detail regarding his job or where he was living, other than furnishing the address.

In her haste, when she moved, Betty had failed to register a change of address with the Post Office. In fact, she never gave it a thought, nor did the Prestons remind her that she should. Could it be that Betty wanted to put a little worry on Bob if and when he tried to contact her? Or was this just a simple oversight? Only she knows the answers. Thus far her new residence has worked out well for her, and the Prestons. Occasionally she was invited to eat with them when she came home after work.

Bob has made it a regular practice to check the companys bulletin board hoping to find a used vehicle for sale that he can afford. The practice paid off. On his and Walts return from an overnight delivery there was a new note posted on the board. It read, Wanda Wilson wants to sell her husbands car; he passed away three years ago. Its a six-year-old Chevy with only eighteen thousand miles on the odometer.

Mrs. Wilson, a thirty-nine year old widow, couldnt bring herself to sell it too quickly after his death. His death was caused by an on-the-job accident for which the company was found to be at fault. As a result, she received a substantial settlement.

Fearful that someone might beat him to it, Bob rushed to speak to Mrs. Wilson early the next morning. He found her in the upholstery department where she was the supervisor. She was sewing an armrest cover for a recliner when Bob approached.

Excuse me, Mrs. Wilson? Im Bob Roberts, I saw your note on the bulletin board about the car.

She glanced up, Yes, I have finally decided to sell it. I had a very hard time making the decision.

Bob said, I can understand why it would be difficult for you. He felt bad when he saw tears well up in Mrs. Wilsons eyes. Maybe we should talk about it another time, he suggested.

No, its Okay, I still get a little emotional sometimes. We can talk about it now. She dabbed her eyes with a tissue, I suppose youd like to see the car; its really a fine one.

Yes, I would. Dont you drive it to work?

No, It just sits in the garage. I havent driven it for months. Im sure it has a dead battery after all this time. Ill have Triple-A come out and get it started; if it needs a new battery, Ill buy one. Ill let you know when its ready to be driven, then you can come out and look at it. Mrs. Wilson told Bob that she was aware that he was renting a room at the Flowers and offered to drive him back and forth to see the car when its ready. She also said that she wouldnt sell the car to anyone else before he has a chance to test drive it.

Bob thanked her and said he would be waiting to hear from her. What price she was asking for the car didnt enter into the discussion, however Bob figured it would be somewhere between three and four hundred. He had checked the prices on used cars at several car lots and they ran in that general area. Working long hours along with the free lodging Bob hasnt had the opportunity to spend much of what he has earned. With a little more than two hundred dollars saved, he will soon have enough to pay cash for the car, unless she changes her mind about selling it.

Three days later when Bob and Walt returned from making a delivery, Mrs. Wilson was awaiting Bobs arrival. Triple-A had taken care of the dead battery; they said it was still good. It only needed a re-charge and some use to keep it from happening again. She had driven the car to work this day and was anxious to tell Bob that the battery was still good and that the car just needed to be driven to keep it charged.

They walked out to where it was parked. The car was a two door Bel-Air with an interior that looked like it had never been sat in. Bob looked over the exterior and said, Mrs. Wilson, I would like to buy the car. Have you decided on a price?

Yes, Im asking three hundred and fifty dollars for it, which I think is fair.

Bob replied, It is. At this time I have a little more than two hundred saved but it shouldnt take long to get the rest. Will you hold it for me?

Of course, Bob, I said I would. Ill drive it a little each day like the man said I should.

I appreciate it Mrs. Wilson and I promise, Ill soon have the money. Bobs excitement grew over the possibility that he was soon be the proud owner of a car, something that he had never had the privilege to be. Along with that privilege comes another possibility of a chance to see Betty and for her to witness the change that has taken place in his life. If and when that occurs she may want to change the wording in her edict to him.



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Bobs call served two purposes: it let Bob know that Betty was all right while letting Betty know that Bob was all right. It might well be that the separation was what both needed at this stage in their lives. Its very difficult to find fault with Bettys frustration; the situation had gone on far too long and had shown no signs of getting better.

For Bob, the separation was a wake-up call, at least it should have been. By this time he knows that if he wants to save their marriage, he cannot go on as he has for the past six years. From what Betty has shown, the decision is his alone. It is definitely Bobs responsibility to decide if the drinking is more important than his marriage.

Betty has long since run out of forgiveness and she has taken positive steps to deal with the problem should Bobs behavior continue. Betty does not claim to be perfect, far from it, but she does feel that she deserves a peaceful home without the constant contention his drinking always caused. Before Bob fell victim to the habit, that was the kind of life they enjoyed. All that Betty asks for, is a return to that lifestyle, which is certainly not an unreasonable request.

Bob agrees, he simply hasnt been able to defeat the monster, as yet: but he is working on it. After talking with Mark that afternoon, Bob was wide awake. He lay in bed, trying to go to sleep but unable to stop counting all the things that had happened. He actually found it difficult to accept the many good things that have fallen into place since that edict day.

When Bill Grammer dropped him off at Als Diner in Wilford, he had just a shade over two dollars to his name and not much, if any, hope of getting more any time soon. Then came the truck-stop lounge, a place of refuge where no one bothered him and he could get some badly needed sleep, even if it was sitting up in a chair. Thanks to the lounge, he was discovered by Walt, who is not only responsible for his having a job, but even the soft bed that he enjoys this night. Now there is the possibility of his actually owning a car. He crossed his fingers that it could work out.

Bob tossed and turned while he continued to ponder recent events. Minutes slipped by and sleep just wouldnt come. I know that I dont deserve all of this, the way that I have treated Betty these last few years. Somehow I have to make it up to her, I only hope that I still have time. I know that there is more to whats happened to me than just luck. Ever since Ive known Betty, I have seen her read the Bible and spend time on her knees praying. I also know that I have been included in her prayers because I have heard her mention my name when she prayed. Surely that has had a great deal to do with what has happened to me lately. Please Betty, dont forget me!

Two weeks passed before Bob had earned enough money, to add to that which he already had, to pay cash for Mrs. Wilsons Chevy. She offered to let him pay it off in installments. He thanked her but said that he would rather not do that. On the day ownership changed hands, Mrs. Wilson drove the car to work. She knew that Bob was going to the Division of Motor Vehicles at lunch time to take care of the necessary paperwork to transfer the title. Then all he had to obtain was insurance coverage. He would be driving the car home after work today.

As for Bob, he couldnt have been happier if he were in a show room buying a brand new Cadillac. When Bob considered getting a car, he thought that the first thing he would want to do would be drive to Dexter and show it off to Betty. His thinking, in that regard, has changed. Now that he has been assured she is all right, after talking with Mark, he cancelled his plans to look her up with his new car. He decided to let her make the first move if there was to be any re-uniting; She ordered him out. He doesnt resent her doing so but he does feel that the first move is up to her. . .even though it may be a long time coming.

Meanwhile, Betty cant help but wonder what is taking place in Bobs life. Pleased to learn that he had called and had been told that she was okay, she was also pleased that he had been very upset when his letter was returned. That proved he still cared. It might come as a shock when she learns that he now owns a car; even a used car is a luxury in Bobs financial circumstances.

Betty is adjusting to living alone but she still harbors hopes that they will eventually be back together. Betty has no knowledge regarding Bobs self imposed re-habilitation program, nor is she aware that so far he has fallen off only once. Hes definitely making an honest effort to defeat the demon that has had such a stranglehold on his life for the past several years. The urge hasnt gone away! He faces a daily struggle and probably will for as long as he lives. But, it appears that he is making some progress and staying busy is largely responsible for that. He has had minimal time to get into trouble.