Philip Stubblefield felt betrayed. He had put in almost thirty years with the Company and had expected to put in another fifteen or twenty. He was good at what he did. He could put the most perfect swirl on top of the caramel stuffed bonbons - better than anyone else on the floor. And certainly better than that confounded machine they had brought in to replace him. They had put him out to pasture like a worn out racehorse. It wasn't enough that they had given him generous buy out package. He had taken great pride in what he did and now that was gone.
Katherine, on the other hand, was quite grateful for the buy out package. It had enabled them to pay off the house and had given them enough to live on until Philip had found another job. True, it hadn't been enough to buy extras, but at least they weren't going hungry. She knew Philip wasn't happy in his new job as a Lumberyard Lackie, but when she had offered to get a job to help out, it was as if she had threatened his manhood. They had agreed, he said that she wouldn't work until after the kids were out of school. He was the provider in the family. He would provide. She would stay home and take care of the house and the kids. And she was mostly happy with the arrangement. But now that the kids were getting older, they didn't seem to need her as much and she spent most of the day just rattling around the house. Being a stay at home mom hasn't been all that easy lately, what with Kylie acting out and all. A job would be good for her, something fun involving games would be great.
Kylie felt betrayed too. While they hadn't been what you would call rich, they were at least comfortable. And she had plans. She wanted things. Now there is never any money for the things that all teenage girls would like to have – mp3 players, video games, new clothes, etc. And she's not the brightest crayon in the box, so college is probably not in her future. She wanted to go to college. Most of all, she wanted to get out of Bedgeberry. She had just known that when news that the Company was moving had been reported, that they would move too. Simsboro was a big city with lots of opportunities, bright lights, new people. But no, her dad had to be one of those that wasn't asked to move with the Company. And now here she was. Stuck. In. Podunk! It makes her so angry sometimes, she just has to kick something. Sometimes she thinks about how she could have those things without having any money. She hasn't crossed the line into crime yet, but she might.
And Jordan? Well, he's eleven. He just wants to have fun, make friends, do well in school – all those little boy things. He actually received $100.00 from family for doing well in school. But those teen years are right over the horizon. Katherine hopes he will be a happier teen than Kylie.
