Trash Talk

Thomas came to haul my trash yesterday and there was a lot. He will return in two weeks and I will again have a lot. It struck me yesterday that I will be heading to Florida in a month, give or take. The (alleged) details emerged from Thomas about why he was unavailable for awhile. Paula and her three kids are subject to a restraining order(!) prohibiting her from getting near Harlan or their place. No violence has been done to anybody or anything except Harlan's pocketbook and ill-gotten gains. Paula had been staying with a girlfriend in town on and off while trying to work things out with Thayne. Unsurprisingly, with that outfit, money was a big issue. Paula has quite a bit of it from a legacy and insurance. First, Harlan borrowed $100,000.00 from her and bought cattle and fed them and sold them ( I suspect unbeknownst to the IRS). She says she got that back, no interest, and announced she was going out of the banking business.. Then she bought a medium sized tractor and attachments for their use on their place. The farm "borrowed" it last season and Paula was surprised to see that it had been leased to the tune of $26,000.00 on the farm tax return she was forced to sign. She took a dim view of that and put a stop to it. Then their basement flooded and Harlan said the house was theirs they should pay. Paula being no dummy went to the courthouse and discovered the house was not theirs, it was in Harlan's name. So she pressed to get that changed and put Thayne in the tough position of standing up to his parents. The relationship went downhill from there. Thayne would stay at his folk's house, uncomfortable silences, at home. She started staying in town with her girlfriend. Divorce proceedings were started and put in abeyance a couple of times. She and the kids were home out here and the sheriff came and evicted them giving them time to pack only a suitcase. All their personal possessions are being held hostage. "Merde du Polloi!"* So that is why Thomas couldn't haul my trash. But they are welcome here anytime. The people at the courthouse said the restraining order, in the absence of violence, is unprecedented. There must be something about that house. Harlan built it for his youngest son, hoping to lock them into servitude for their whole lives. too. Scot and Teff, decamped one day 15 years ago never to speak to his parents again. They have done quite well. Paula will too.

* merde du polloi" is French for Chickenshit.

Other than that I stayed pretty busy with cordless screwdriver and assorted tools.