This Funny Life: A Novel by Amy Fillion

Author:Amy Fillion [Fillion, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-01-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Two weeks passed in which Marvin and Eva lived at Mabelle’s house without her. Marvin tilled the soil in her garden, readying it for planting time. He knew it was early still; Mabelle had taught him that. But he couldn’t sit idle. He had to move, do something in his spare time when he wasn’t working. Eva had churned out some more bracelets that she planned on selling that summer once the baby was a few months old and perhaps not as needy as they expected him or her to be in infancy. She had told him time and time again that she knew it wouldn’t make them much in the way of money, but it was something that brought her joy. That was enough for Marvin, so he continuously encouraged her passion.

On a Monday evening in early April, Marvin and Eva were sitting on the sofa—he reading the newspaper and she reading a book—when they heard the jangling of the knob on the front door. Marvin turned toward the intrusion, and that was when the door swung open and a booted foot stepped inside.

Marvin leaped from his seated position with curled fists and a thumping heart. Adrenaline rushed through his body and rang in his ears.

The intruder moved farther into the room, looked directly at Marvin, and demanded, “Who the hell are you?”

“I was going to ask you the same question.”

“None of your damn business.”

“I think it is our business when you’re the one breaking into our home,” Marvin said, his voice sounding more sure than he actually felt. He willed himself to stand erect, imposing. But the man in front of him was old. He looked almost as ancient as Mabelle had looked. What could he possibly do to Marvin and Eva? But ancient or not, he was still standing in the doorway, an unwanted presence, to say the least.

“This isn’t your home,” the man said.

“It’s… yes it is.”

“No,” the man said, shaking his head and pursing his lips. “It’s not. This was my mother’s home, and now it’s mine.”

“You’re… this was your mother’s house?”

“You deaf?” the man asked. “That’s what I said. And now it’s mine.”

“Mabelle was your mother?”

The man frowned. “She was.”

“But she never… she didn’t…”

“No,” the man said, not allowing Marvin to finish. “I’m sure she didn’t. But she’s dead now, and in her will, she left this place to me. So it’s mine, and you’re trespassing.”

Eva pivoted on the sofa. “We were living with Mabelle,” she said. “For many months now.”

“And now you’re not,” the man said curtly.

“No,” Eva said. “Obviously, she’s not here anymore, but she wanted us to stay here with her.”

“And that’s impossible with her dead,” the man said bluntly.

Marvin winced.

“The place is mine now,” the man continued. “And I need you out.”

“You have to be kidding!” Eva shrieked.

“I’m not.” The man took a step farther into the living room. “Pack up your things and get out. The woman caused me enough pain in my life, but at least she did right by me in leaving me this house, and I don’t need you here.

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