Bryan spent the first year after graduation looking for a job and trying to decide if he should get a master’s degree. After much prayer and contemplation, he and Nedra decided they didn’t want to pursue any more schooling. Since he was no longer going to be attending the University of Utah, this also meant they could no longer stay in student housing. After boxing up all of their belongings, they purchased their first home in Midvale, Utah.

Matt found himself alone in his own bedroom in the basement before he finished kindergarten. Bryan, Nedra, and Miranda took the only two bedrooms upstairs. The house could use some fixing up, but they picked it because it was a rambler, open enough for Bryan to get around. He was able to go in every room except the basement.

They had only been in the house a few weeks when Nedra bathed Bryan one night and accidentally dropped him in the shower. He slipped out of her hands and she couldn’t get him up again without help. Both Matt and Miranda were too young to help, so she ran for her phone list from the church. Scanning through the names, one stood out from the rest. She remembered seeing him in church last week and he introduced himself afterward. He was a big guy. Nedra grabbed the phone and dialed quickly.

“Hello?”

“Hi, who is this?”

“Umm, you called me.”

“I know, I’m sorry, I’m looking for Andy. Is that you?”

“…Yes”

“Andy, this is Nedra Carroll. We met in church on Sunday. Listen, I dropped my husband in the shower and I can’t get him back up again. I really need a hand. Is there any way you could come over?”

“I’ll be right there.”

Nedra paced back and forth in front of the door, jumping when it knocked a moment later. She grabbed the handle and swung it open. “Thank you so much for coming,” she said. She charged through the house and into the bathroom, without pausing to make sure he was behind her. “Bryan, I’ve got some help,” she called, announcing their entrance.

Bryan lay on the tub floor, his body bent in the position he had been dropped. Nedra’s hand shook as she held it out, palm up, showing Andy how he’d fallen. “Bryan, this is Andy, Andy, this is Bryan. I’m not sure if you remember him from church.”

“Let’s exchange pleasantries after I’ve changed out of my birthday suit, if you don’t mind,” Bryan smirked.

Andy chuckled, immediately put at ease by Bryan’s casual tone. “All right,” he said, “How do we do this?”

“If you can, put one arm under his arms here,” Nedra explained, leaning over the tub and pointing. “Then place your other arm under his legs here, and I’ll help you lift.”

“Got it.” Andy stepped forward and, bending low, was able to scoop Bryan back up in his arms. He followed Nedra’s directions and laid him on the bed on top of a towel. “Is there anything else I can help with?”

“No, thank you so much,” Nedra said, walking him back through the house. “I really, really appreciate you coming over and helping. I’m sure I sounded crazy on the phone, but you came anyway.”

“Hey, what are neighbors for?”

“Not usually this,” Nedra said, opening the door for him.

Andy’s smile filled his whole face. “Yeah, I guess that’s true. Well, goodnight.” He waved and walked back down the sidewalk.

***

“Why is Dad wearing a tie today?” Matt walked into his parent’s bedroom as Nedra finished straightening Bryan’s tie.

“He has a job interview,” Nedra said, folding his shirt collar down.

“Where is it this time?”

“A computer company called IBM,” Bryan answered. “I’ll be back before you get home from school.”

Matt nodded.

“You ready to go?” Nedra asked. “Don’t forget your backpack. And where is your sister?”

“Playing in her room.”

“All right. I can drop you off at school today on my way to Dad’s interview, but you gotta hurry.”

Nedra scurried down the hall, scooping Miranda onto her hip. She cried and reached for her toys on the floor. “It’s time for daycare, sweetie.” Nedra spoke soothingly as she raced for the front door.

“We’re gonna be late, Ned,” Bryan said as she hurried past.

“No, we’re not. Go get in the van.” Nedra buckled Miranda, tied Bryan’s chair down, and then climbed into the front seat. She slammed on the horn as they all waited for Matt to appear. He finally peeked his dark head around the door and sauntered toward the van, his yellow and blue backpack bobbing as he walked. Nedra honked again, causing Matt to jump. He ran the rest of the way. As soon as his door closed, Nedra stepped on the gas and they tore out of the driveway. Matt flew into the backseat, banging his shoulder against Miranda’s car seat.

“Geeze, Mom, I don’t even have my seatbelt on yet!”

“We don’t have time. I told you I’d give you a ride to school if you hurried. Why weren’t you hurrying?”

“I got distracted,” Matt said, shrugging. He carefully pulled himself upright and buckled his seatbelt in place.

“Here you go,” Nedra said as she pulled up beside the curb. “Love you. See you tonight.”

Matt unclicked his seatbelt and jumped from the van. He barely shut the door when Nedra sped off once again. Matt pulled his hand back quickly to make sure she didn’t take it with her.

“My interview is in ten minutes,” Bryan said. “We’re never going to make it.”

“Oh, yes we are,” Nedra said. Her eyes narrowed and her hands gripped the steering wheel so tight, her knuckles went white. “Hang on,” she said.

Bryan’s eyes widened as Nedra sped down the street, but he didn’t dare say anything. She was determined to get there. “I’ll drop you off first and then I’ll take Miranda to daycare. I’ll swing back and grab you before I have to leave for work, okay?”

“All right,” Bryan answered, staring at the digital clock on the dashboard. Nedra pulled up beside the curb of a tall, brown building filled with office suites. She left the engine running as she jumped out and ran around to the side of the van. She lowered his ramp before realizing Bryan was still strapped in. Nedra groaned as she hoisted herself back into the van’s interior and loosened the thick, yellow straps. She climbed out and guided Bryan onto the track. Once he was in place, she pulled down on the lever and slowly lowered him to the ground. “Good luck, I love you, bye!” Nedra kissed him quickly before Bryan drove up to the building and disappeared inside.

“Okay, baby girl, just you and me left,” Nedra said as she put the ramp away and climbed back into the driver’s seat. “You ready for daycare?”

“No! No! No!” Miranda shouted.

Nedra sighed and pulled the van back onto the main road again, much more carefully this time. “I know, sweetie, but Mommy has to go to work. You get to go play with toys!” She tried to make her voice sound as chipper as possible.

It seemed to work this time. “Toys!” Miranda clapped her hands excitedly.

***

Nedra turned the key in the lock slowly. It had been a long day at the hospital, but she knew her day wasn’t over yet. She had to go inside, make dinner, and then fight with Matt on his homework before she could finally relax. Taking a deep breath, she turned until she heard a click. She pushed the door open. Her ears were immediately assaulted by the sounds of screaming.

“MATTHEW MAYO CARROLL, YOU GET DOWN HERE THIS INSTANT! NO! STOP THAT!”

Nedra walked into the kitchen to find Bryan in front of the washing machine, his face purple and contorted with rage. Matt sat on top of the washing machine, squirting his dad in the face with a spray bottle. Miranda was beside her brother, making faces and taunting her father and then squealing when he yelled. Nedra dropped her large bag on the floor with a thud. Matt and Miranda both jumped when they saw their mother standing in the open doorway, a look of death on her face. Matt leaped from the washing machine and ran down the basement stairs, taking them two at a time. Miranda slid to the edge of the washing machine, her head hung down, not daring to meet Nedra’s gaze. She held her arms out for Nedra to help her down.

“Get to your room NOW,” Nedra threatened, each word coming out like ice. Miranda scurried as fast as she could, bawling loudly as she ran.

Nedra put her fingers to her temples, slowly rubbing them clockwise, willing the migraine that had formed to go away. “What happened?” she asked Bryan, falling into a kitchen chair.

“I told Matt he needed to turn off the TV and start on his homework,” Bryan said, pulling up beside her. “He not only climbed on top of the washing machine again, but he found your squirt bottle up there.”

“Yeah, I saw.”

“He also taught Miranda how to climb up, so she could taunt me, too.”

“Great,” Nedra said sarcastically. “What are we going to do with them?”

“I don’t know,” Bryan said, still trying to calm himself. “All I know is it’s a good thing I’m in this wheelchair or I would have killed that boy by now.”

“He wouldn’t be able to torture you the way he does if you weren’t in a wheelchair.” Nedra let out an angry breath. In a much calmer voice, she asked, “So how was the interview?”

“It was fine,” Bryan said. “They said they don’t have any full time positions open for me, but they offered me part time work.”

“Not what we were hoping for, but that’s good,” Nedra said, nodding. “What’s the part time job?”

“They need someone who can go to job fairs and computer conventions to try and sell their voice recognition software.”

“Well that sounds like the perfect job for you,” Nedra said. “After all, you use their program almost every day.”

“Yeah, that’s what they were thinking. Who better to sell it than one of their top customers?”

“That’s great, Bryan.” Nedra tried to sound enthusiastic. She bent down and gave him a kiss.

“It’s not full time, though,” Bryan said. “And it doesn’t pay nearly enough to support us.”

Nedra tried to hide the disappointment in her eyes. “Well, it’s a good thing I still have my job.”

“But I know your dream is to stay home with the kids. I want to make that dream come true for you.”

Nedra shrugged. “You’ll keep looking. You haven’t given up on anything else yet, so I know you won’t give up on this.” Nedra gave his hand a squeeze. “Now I better go deal with our son.”

Bryan gave her a weak smile before driving his wheelchair into the living room. After he left, Nedra picked up her purse from the floor and set it on the countertop. She stomped down the basement steps loudly so Matt would know how much trouble he was in. Nedra banged on his bedroom door with her fist. Matt opened it slowly, peeking his head around the door.

“Let me in.”

Matt stepped back as Nedra pushed the door open the remainder of the way. “What were you thinking?”

“I don’t know,” Matt whispered, staring at his shoes.

“Look at me,” Nedra said. Matt didn’t move. “I SAID LOOK AT ME!”

Matt looked up, his lip trembling.

“I love your father very much. And if you can’t be nice to him and learn how to be respectful, then one of you will have to go, and I can guarantee you, it won’t be him.” Nedra’s eyes narrowed as she stared at her son, making sure the threat sank in. She turned and walked from his room, slamming the door.

***

Bryan tried not to show his excitement as they loaded the van for California. He didn’t want to get his hopes up, or the hopes of his family, but he really wanted one of these jobs. Working the fairs and shows for the last year was fun, but he still needed full time work. When a full time position became available in San Jose, it took very little convincing for Nedra and the kids to agree to the trip. Once his first interview was set, Bryan found another job opening in Irvine, California, and scheduled an interview there as well. Bryan knew Nedra would love returning home to California.

The drive was long and slow, with Nedra having to drive the entire way. Even with stops and breaks, Matt and Miranda quickly grew restless. They were both fidgety and bored, fighting over having to stay in their seats, the amount of snacks they got, and anything else they could think of.

“Why don’t you try counting semi trucks?” Bryan suggested.

Matt stared out his window for the next several hours, announcing to his parents when he reached one hundred.

When the van finally passed the ‘Welcome to California’ sign, Bryan blew out a breath of relief. They arrived at their hotel in Irvine well after dark. Nedra crashed onto the firm bed once Bryan, the kids, and all their belongings had made it safely inside. Matt and Miranda, who both napped on the way, were wide awake and wired. They bounced on the other bed, laughing and squealing, until Matt tried to jump from one queen to the other. He landed with both knees in Nedra’s back. She yelled until her face turned purple. Both kids slipped under the covers and settled down very quickly after that.

The next day, Bryan came out of his interview feeling discouraged. “They said they don’t know how to utilize the technologies I use,” Bryan said. “Which is the polite way of saying they can’t hire me, because they don’t know what to do with me.”

Nedra put her arm around him and kissed his cheek softly. “You will find the perfect job, where your skills will not only be utilized but will improve their company. It’s out there. We just have to find it.”

Bryan smiled. “You’re right,” he said. “Let’s get out of here.”

The next morning, the family made their way to Disneyland. Bryan couldn’t go on any rides, but he enjoyed waiting in line with his family and then people watching while they rode. At last they came to the Enchanted Tiki Room, the one ride that Bryan could enjoy. When the crew members lowered their wheelchair lift, they discovered Bryan’s chair was too wide to fit on the ramp, so he sat outside in the bright sunshine and listened to the music from the singing birds as it carried over the walls.

The next day, they packed their car back up again and traveled to San Jose for the second interview. Nedra sat in the waiting room, flipping through a magazine. She wasn’t much of a nail biter, but she found herself chewing on her thumbnail as she waited anxiously for Bryan. She heard the elevator doors open, and her head whipped around. Bryan came driving toward her, but he didn’t look happy. Not a good sign.

“How did it go?” Nedra asked, though she feared she already knew the answer.

“They said I’m qualified for the job. However, they just started a hiring freeze yesterday. So while we were standing in line and going on rides, our fate was already decided. I was never going to get the job.” Bryan’s face became red with anger. “They couldn’t have called and given me a heads up before we spent all that money to drive out here?” Bryan’s voice echoed through the corridor, and Nedra motioned for them to leave the building.

Once outside, in the bright, warm sunshine, Bryan’s mood quickly softened. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly.

“I don’t think what they did to you is fair. However,” Nedra said, “look at the kids.”

Bryan drove forward and watched as Matt chased Miranda, tickling her to the ground. They both got up and Miranda took a turn chasing her brother across the grass. She caught up to him behind a big tree and they both fell to the ground, laughing again.

“You’re right,” Bryan said. “They have been having so much fun. They haven’t stopped talking about Disneyland since we left. They needed this vacation, didn’t they?”

Nedra nodded. Approaching Bryan, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders from behind and gave them a squeeze. “We all did.”