Copyright Copyright @2015 by Shirley Long All rights reserved. No parts of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronics or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems without the author permission. Disclaimer: This book is written for entertainment purposes only. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be coincidental as real. Resemblance to actual person, living or dead, business, establishments, events, or locals or Ir entirely coincidental. Title of Book: A Good Neighbor This is a free short story book that author wrote for readers to enjoy. If you would like to read or purchase more books from author, please feel free to visit Amazon.com and search for Shirley Long Books Thanks and Have A Great Day.
Table of Contents: Chapter One A Kind Deed
The street I lived on was flooded. There had been a storm today and it rain a lots. I thought at first, it would never stop. I felt so relieved when it finally did. Our house is built low and is so close to the ground. There are no steps leading to our porch. Instead is a stair-way somewhat like a sidewalk leading to our house. This is one feature of the house I did not like at all. But I could not complain because this is all that my mom could afford at the time. I was happy just to be living here. Considering where we used to reside. Our old community was built of rows and rows of apartments. Perhaps about three hundred total. There were plenty of people living there. The old, young, and lots of children. Our neighborhood was never a dull place. There was always something going on or happening there. Whether it was good or bad. But most of the time it was bad. That is one reason I can settle for this two bedroom flat house which I reside in now. It beats where I used to stay. I came outside just to check things out. To see how high the water had gotten. It got so high until it was almost right at our front door. I could hardly step outside without my foot being swallowed up in water. I stepped out anyway. To my surprise, the storm had been bad. There were trees all over the streets. Trash and rubbish was floating everywhere. I could not believe what I was seeing. This was the worst it had ever been around my neighborhood. Mr. Henry, my next-door neighbor was standing outside in his yard with rubber rain boots on. He raised his hands to say hi to me. I spoke to him and asked how was he doing. He replied, “I was doing just fine, until I came outside to this mess”. It really did some damage today. I did not expect this much debris and trash to be flowing in the streets. I replied, “Neither did I Mr, Henry”. “This mess has got to
be cleaned up immediately”. Mr. Henry looked at me with a look of astonishment on his face, as if to say, “You will be waiting for days if you thing anyone care about cleaning up this mess”. I reminded him that our homeowners insurance would probably pay someone to come clear this mess up. Mr. Henry replied, “I don't know how those people operate in those offices.” You know it will take a while before anything can be done”. “It got to be reviewed it and someone else higher up has to make recommendations before anything can be done. I suppose the committee, then they have to take a vote or something on it.” “I don't know how it goes, but I reckon it can take for days” before the matter is settled before the problem can be handled”. Who want to live in filth like that for that length of time”? “I responded, “I know I don't”. “Mr. Henry, let's hope and pray that this matter is handled quickly”. “It need to be done. There is no way we can breathe this kind of mess”. “I know I can't with my allergies, replied Mr. Henry”. “Someone has got to do something and I mean fast”. “I am going to call as soon as I go back inside”. “Mr. Henry, if you like, I will call” . “Okay, I appreciate it. Just as long as somebody call”. “It is no problem to me”. “I enjoy being able to assist you in this matter”. “If you need me to do anything else for you, please don't hesitate to let me know”. He then went back inside of his house. I just stood there. Looking at this mess in amazement. I did not know what to tell mom. The water had reached her car window and she is going to have a hard time trying to get inside to go to work.
I muster up some nerves to inform mom what was going on. By the time I was walking inside the living room. I could hear mom voice calling out my name. “Katie, I need to talk to you”. “How is things looking outside so far”? I started not to say anything. But I knew she was going to see for herself. I slowly replied, “Mom it is a disaster out there”. “You want believe how far that water has come up”. “This water rose up so high this time”. Mom, I hate to be a carrier of bad news. “But the water reached so high that it is up to your car windows”. “I don't know how on earth, you are going to be able to get inside of your car to go to work”. “You might have to call off and wait until the water go down”. Mom, came into the living room with one of the most awful looks on her face. She was annoyed and furious in a way. About what had happened. “Dog gone it, why did this have to happen to me and my car”. “No matter how hard I try to do right, something is always there to make my life complicated”. “I am getting tired of being the victim of bad news or something wrong or terrible happening”. “Just last week, my refrigerator stopped working”. “Now I got to get a new one”. “That is money out of my pocket”. “And I know for a fact, I can't afford to get a new one”. “what's a woman to do”? “Mom, everything is going to be alright”. What did you tell me. “I know, I say, just keep the faith and the Lord will make a way”. “Don't you believe it”? “Of course, I do, Katie”. “Right now, I am just frustrated”. When things like this occur, it have a tendency to make a person upset and doubtful. But I do practice what I preach. Every word I said is true. “I know something good is going to come out of this bad situation.”
I reached over and hugged mom tightly. I could tell mom was upset and just needed a big hug to help her forget about her problem for now. Dad had left mom a few years ago. And now it was just mom and I. It would make me want to get a job to help pay some of the bills. I know the financial burden on mom was too much to bear at times. I was still ih High-School and it was rough for her to have to pay all the bills by herself. I wanted to ask mom so bad if it would be okay if I got an afternoon job and work at one of the restaurants in town to help meet our financial obligations. I already knew what the answer is going to be. She would always tell me no. You haven't finished school. You have got to get an education. Put your mind on your studies. So you can go to college and get a good job. I don't want you having to work hard like me in order to pay your bills. I did not feel like hearing that lecture today. So I kept my mouth shut and my thoughts to myself. I will pray for mom and I know that something good will come out of this situation. I was holding mom tight and whispered gently in her ear, “mom, The Lord Will Make A Way”. Her eyes got brighter and I could tell she felt much better. Mom, muttered out of her mouth, Katie, “I love you so much sweet-heart”. I gently replied, “I love you too mom”. At this moment, I felt a sense of relief. I knew something good was going to happen. Mom started to smiling and singing her favorite song. She would always sing this one particular song whenever things seemed to be going wrong. I loved hearing her beautiful voice. I often wondered why she did not become a singer. She would always say, “Katie, singing isn't for me.” I love doing lots of things”. “It is not something that I have a passion for”. Besides, I don't have the time nor energy to keep up with all
the work that is involved in becoming a professional singer. I would reassure her that she could if she really wanted to. Mom would shun me off . And start back to doing whatever it was that she was doing before this conversation started. I would stop nagging her about it because she had her mind made up and there was nothing I could do or say to change it. After all, I love mom the way she is. I don't know what kind of mom she would be if she was a singer. She might not have that much time to be with me. And I knew I would not like that at all. Mom and I was close and shared a lot about our lives together. I would tell her about the troubles I had with my boy-friends. She would give me that good motherly advice. Sometimes it would help at times it wouldn't. Because things have changed so drastically since mom was dating. I did appreciate her guidance because it was good sound advice. It helped me to stay on the straight and narrow path. This is something I needed at this time of my life. There is so much peer pressure going on and everyone want to be a part of some type of group or with a particular group of people. To me, it didn't matter. I would always hang out with the type of friends who were out-going, fun, loving type of individuals. Those who cared about people and the way in which they treat them. These type of friends kept me grounded and stable. I held onto most of the morals mom had taught me. And I loved this. I could be myself around them and not pretend to be someone else. Mom informed me that she was going to call our neighborhood committee and find out what they are going to do about this mess out here. I replied, that is a good idea. Mr. Henry is worried and I promised him that I would find out what they are planning on doing about it. He was overjoyed when I reassured him I would handle this matter for him. Mom asked me did he have homeowners insurance? I hesitated for a
moment, then spoke up and uttered out of my mouth, “I really don't know, I forgot to ask him”. Mom gave me a puzzled look and blurted out of her mouth, “Why didn't you ask him Katie”? I know you had to know that he has to have this. “Mom, I wasn't thinking”. “All I could see was that he was desperate and needed someone to help him settle this matter”, 'Some good you are doing girlie, forgetting to get this information from him”. Mom, do you think I should go and visit him. I can find out if he has any and go from there. “Never mind, dear, let me take care of this matter and find out what they are willing to do”. “It might be that the Neighborhood Committee is willing to assist everyone involved in this disaster. Before mom could finish talking, the phone rang. She answered it promptly. She was surprised to find out that it was one of the Members. Informing her that someone is going to be evaluating the disaster and that everyone who had any type of damages done to their property, will be reimbursed and the damage will be taken care of. Mom could hardly speak when she got off the phone. She was so relieved, knowing that someone would be coming today, to take care of all the debris and rubbish. And to evaluate what type of property damage had been done. I quickly asked her, “Mom what did they say?” “Katie, like we were saying earlier, “The Lord Will Make A Way”. Everything is going to be taken care of for everyone in the neighborhood. Mr. Henry has nothing to worry about now. I was so glad to hear this great news. Mr Henry is an elderly man about eighty years old and didn't need this type of stress. He had no children and his wife was sickly. He couldn't handle any more anxiety and pressure in his life right now.
Do you think I should go and inform Mr. Henry mom”? “Of course, why not, this will help relieve his mind”. Alright mom. I'll go now and tell him the good news.
I walked briskly out of the front door. My heart and soul filled with nothing but happiness. Knowing that mom car and Mr Henry property will be taken care of also. I walked over to Mr. Henry house and knocked on his front door. He didn't have a door bell. At first, I thought he had left the house. Forgetting that he was slow because sometimes he would be assisting his wife with something. He finally arrived to the front door. He had a weird look on his face. I asked him was he alright. He answered real slowly, “Katie, child I don't know”. “These people are giving me the run around about coming to clean up this mess”. I smiled gently, and explained to Mr. Henry that mom had taken care of all of that head-ache. He asked me what did I mean. I explained to him that the Neighborhood Committee had already talked to someone and they are coming today to clean up all the debris and mess in the neighborhood. He smiled at me and said “Thank you Katie, you have made my day”. I was worried and didn't know what to do. “You and your mom are good neighbors”. “Will you please tell her I said thanks and may God bless her”. Yes, Mr. Henry, I will tell her”. “Tell your wife I said hello”. “And I hope you both have a great day”. I am so glad something good came of this disaster. It turned out not to be a disaster after all. We both smiled at each other and I left.
The End of this short story. If you enjoyed reading this short-story you can feel free to go to Amazon and check out some of Shirley Long books there. Thanks and be blessed.