THE TOWERS FAMILY SAGA
        Episode 65
The smell of damp earth
hung heavy in the small
condo the next morning.
Robert stood on the tiny
balcony, watching the
mist rise off the hills.
His muscles ached from
the ladder work, but his
mind was surprisingly
calm and clear today.
Minnie stepped out and
handed him a mug of
strong, black coffee.
"The girls are still
sleeping," she said,
her voice a whisper.
"They worked like
soldiers last night."
Robert sipped the brew
and looked at his hands.
"They have a lot of
their grandfather in
them," he replied.
"They don't quit when
the water starts to
rise around their feet."
A white truck pulled up
to the curb below.
It was Dave Martinez,
checking on the units
after the big storm.
He waved a hand at
Robert and pointed to
the clear, blue sky.
"The desert always
cleans itself," Dave
shouted from the lot.
Robert nodded, feeling
the truth of the words.
The storm had washed
away the last bit of
dust from the old life.
Inside, the phone began
to ring on the counter.
It was Dorothy, sounding
bright and energized.
"Dad, I'm at the school
cleaning up the yard."
"The kids are coming in
to help replant the
trees we lost tonight."
Robert felt a surge of
pride for his teacher.
She was sowing seeds in
the same ground that
had once been poisoned.
Virginia and Shirley
emerged from the rooms,
looking tired but proud.
"We checked the files,"
Shirley announced.
"The digital backups are
safe and the ink is dry."
They sat together at the
small kitchen table.
No mahogany, no silver,
just a family and a
pot of hot coffee.
Barbara arrived late,
carrying a bag of
breakfast burritos.
"The warehouse roof is
already being patched."
"We are back in business
by noon," she laughed.
Robert looked at Minnie
and saw her smiling.
The saga was no longer
about the tragedy of
what they had lost.
It was about the beauty
of what they had found.
The Arizona sun began
to bake the sidewalk.
The air was fresh and
the path was wide open.
The Towers were ready.
The day was starting.

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