fastback08
Veteran Member
Chapter 7
Frank's Dad was there bright and early. They quickly laid out the area where the garage was going to be. They had decided to build a large storage/laundry area onto the house, and the garage would be connected to the storage area. Frank's Dad started the digging for the foundation while Frank started clearing everything that would be in the way. The old metal carport would become a place to keep firewood out of the weather. Tommy, loved to watch his Grandpa on the tractor, so Janet, put him in a chair next to a window and served his breakfast there. The lumber truck arrived with materials to build forms with and Frank directed the driver where to stack the material. Everything was placed to rear of the house so it wasn't easily seen from the road. Frank took frequent measurements to make certain they were at the depth they wanted to be. Digging the hole was pretty much an all day job. The next morning, they dug the footers and laid drain pipe under the forms. They would pour the floor and headers and after an appropriate wait, depending on the weather, they would pour the walls. They plumbed in all the necessary piping for a bathroom and a small galley type kitchen. The plumbing was tied into the house plumbing but was set up so it could be made independent of the house with the closing of a few valves. The restroom was piped directly to the new septic tank and the gray water would go directly to the leech field.
“I'll be back in the morning and we can start building forms, “said Frank's Dad, “Would you mind if I brought a little help?” “I have a neighbor that is completely trustworthy and he could use a little extra money right now. He is an excellent carpenter, but there is not much construction going on right now.”
“If he is OK by you, he is OK by me,” said Frank. “How much will it cost me?”
“We will work that out, but I guarantee, whatever we pay him, it will be money well spent. He will get us ahead of schedule and keep us there,” said John.
“OK, Dad, I'll see the two of you in the morning, by the way, Dad, aren't we supposed to have a building permit?”
“Taken care of, boy. I have a old lodge brother in the permits office. We won't be hassled and the construction will not show up on your tax information.”
Frank was dragging by the time he got in the house. How in the world had he let himself get so soft. His Dad had worked circles around him. Maybe this sitting in front of a computer all day was not as good as he thought. I have got to get in better shape. No more soft life for me.
“Ready for some supper,” asked Janet?
“Hot shower first and then I will be right in there. You and Tommy can start without me if you want,” said Frank,
He stood under the shower letting the massage nozzle beat down on his neck and shoulders thinking to himself. It's funny he thought, I am spending all this energy and money on something I hope I never get to use. I'm buying food that I pray we never eat, and I am storing water that I never want to drink, yet it feels like the right thing to do. I just wish we had started when we first got married. He realized he had washed all the soreness out of his back that the water would remove, so he turned off the nozzle and climbed out of the shower. He went to his bedroom and put on a pair of old jogging pants and a Tee shirt and made his way to the kitchen. He was wearing the soreness and the tiredness like a badge of honor. He had done something good for his family.
After supper, he went straight to bed, “Good night, Darling,” he told Janet. “I am going to turn in early. Please set the clock for five o'clock.”
“Good night, sweetheart,” Janet replied, “I'll just do the dishes and get Tommy to bed and I'll be right in.”
“ZZZzzzz,” said Frank.