Matthew the New Yorker

Matthew was thinking they would be back by the end of the next week at least. On Tuesday July second, the day after Amber’s birthday a large and violent storm passed through the area with high winds, hail, and a torrential downpour. The rest of the week was spent cleaning up tree limbs, and fixing damaged street signs, unplugging storm drains. At the end of the week he received a Post Card from Amber. It had a picture on it of the Mackinac Bridge.

The Card Read. “Thought we would be home by now, came to Mackinaw city after we left the grandparents. We are going to Upper Michigan, and then over into Wisconsin. I have been told that we will be gone for a MONTH. Amber

Matthew sat down, and wrote a letter to Amber. He talked about the past week, and all that was accomplished at work. He told her about the hail storm, and that he had gone down and checked their Mobile Home, but didn’t see any damage.

The next week he received another card which read. We have seen Lake Superior, then on to Wisconsin Dell’s. We’re headed toward Deadwood South Dakota, and we plan to see Mount Rushmore. Amber.

Matthew added to the letter he had started, and what had transpired at work. About his neighbor, Sara that was always trying to find something negative about him, so she could complain to Jackie about it. He would have the letter waiting for her when she returned home.

He found a spot to hang the post Cards. Sense Amber was the only one that would ever come around, and now that she was gone, even though he knew she was coming back he was still missing her. It was strange that he felt the way that he was feeling, considering that they had only know each other a few months, but for him it seemed like forever.

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AT work he was sent over to the city Park because the Carousel wasn’t working. It was old, and irreplaceable, and parts were hard to find. The boss was afraid that it might be something serious.

When he arrived the park employee said, he had to be somewhere else, and would return later. He did leave behind a meter, some tools, and a locator for locating underground wire’s.

Matthew checked for electrical power at the breaker box going to the Carousel itself, and following his train of thought he checked at the fuse box below the light company’s meter where he found power. After reading the manual on the use of the locator. He disconnected the electrical power from its source, and hooked up the locater at the breaker box in the Carousel. He followed the wires going back toward the meter. The first wire he checked was okay. About half way between the Carousel and the power pole is where he lost he signal on the second wire.

Retrieving a pick and shovel he dug down to where the wire was and found that a gopher had chewed on the wire which caused it to shore out, and melt in two.

Matthew left there, and went over to any electrical store where they told him how to make some simple repairs. With the parts that were needed, he made the necessary repairs. After hooking up the power source again, he turned the power back on, and operated the Carousel to insure it was working okay. Then he filled the hole back in, and picked up he tool’s.

As he was about to leave, the Park Employee, and the boss showed up. After trying the Carousel, they thanked him for fixing the problem.

He received another Post Card with a picture of Mt. Rushmore which read. We have seen a lot of interesting places. I have been enjoying myself some, but I must say, I miss you. Amber.

Once again he added to the letter to keep her up to date as what had been going on while she was away. Yes, he was missing her also, and he thought of her like maybe she was the sister he never had. After the repair in the park he was asked to help Gary out with traffic lights once in a while.

The next Post Card to arrive was from Yellow Stone with Old Faithful on the front. We have seen moose, bear, swans, and deer. Maybe I’ll make it back someday. As nice as this is I am anxious to get back home to my own bed. Amber.

Matthew continued to add to the letter he was writing to her.

They had now been gone for almost three weeks when he got another Post Card, and this one came from the Grand Tetons.

I think we are about ready to start home. I am so tired of riding my butt hurts. Headed toward Laramie tomorrow. Hopefully home next. Amber.

The Post Card was dated four days ago, but there was still no sign of her.