Cornerstone snippet 2

I decided to switch to a more 'appropriate' story. This story is raw, none of the betas have seen it.

The Christmas Gift:

 December 23, 2224

"What do you mean you spent money on that blasted lottery again?" Malory demanded as she stared at her husband. "Are you telling me you spent the money I gave you to buy milk and groceries to feed your family on... on that pipe dream scam?" she demanded scathingly.

"You can't see it that way honey. You and I both know people are winning and actually going!" Donald said .

"But... but..."

"I know; it's a lot. And yes, I spend some of the money. Not all of it," he said, taking her hand in his. "I did get milk and some of the groceries on the list," he said, showing her as he opened the fridge. "See?"

"You bought a quart of milk. Not the 2 gallons I wrote down. Do you know how far that will go with two kids and one on the way in the house?" she demanded, staring at the milk. "Damn it Don, that is supposed to last the week!" she snarled, fists clenched in anger.

"Make it stretch. I bought the whole milk, so water it down," he said indifferently as he released her hand, gave her a peck on the cheek, and then walked off.

"Damn it, come back here! Don't lay this one on me!" she growled, eyes flashing in anger. She shook her self, trying to get her temper under control.

"It's for a good cause," he said distantly from the other room. "You'll see. When we get out of here, a new world! Think of it!"

She shook her head in exasperation. There was no arguing with the man. She had made the mistake in trusting him. No, scratch that, in getting pregnant when he promised he'd... she heaved a sigh and looked at the kids.

He'd proved her mother's point all over again, that he couldn't be trusted. Not with feeding his family. "Where are you going?" she demanded warningly. "And don't say that damn game. You've got to get out and find a better job! And Tirel is supposed to be watched!"

"I've got it covered. I've got the baby monitor see?" he asked, holding up the device. She scowled but he was already in the office firing up his computer.

She closed her eyes and shook her head. She should have known he'd escape into the virtual world once it became available once more. He'd made it clear there was no work out there, none at all. She had to admit he was right in some ways, but also discouraged. What really bothered her was that he was so fixated on the virtual rebuilding of Earth instead of the real thing. If he just went out there and actually did it...

But no, he took the subsistence allowance from the government like the others stuck on welfare and hand outs. And because they did and because he lacked a job they got medical care, which she saw as a good thing since Patricia needed so much care. The air was getting better every day they said, but Pat's lungs were too fragile to handle the smog. She checked the air filter and then grimaced. Another thing Don was being cheap with. He said cleaning it doubled the life time. He was right, but the doctor had warned them to do it right. "Don, don't forget to clean the air filter and check on Pat! You've got to pick her up from school too!" she called out to him.

"Yeah, yeah," he said as she finished getting ready for work.

Both adults worked part time for Earth First as volunteers. They also worked in the local cleanup crews, a requirement for getting welfare. Malory spent most of that time running a day care for the other parents though; she didn't blame them for not wanting their kids mixed up with the cleaning. Not that they were doing anything toxic. Most of it involved picking up trash, replanting, spreading fertilizer, paint, that sort of thing. But a decomposed body was found almost monthly so they didn't want the kids on hand to have to see that.

She had a food supplement available because they were poor and she was pregnant, but she was loath to call on it. She didn't like the idea of being too dependent on the government.

Don always had a get rich quick scheme in mind. Before it had been the regular cash lottery. Then it had been flipping cars and junk, but he'd nearly gotten himself busted for trying to sell stuff from during the A.I. war. She shook her head. He'd been burned on that one; they'd lost most of their savings.

Then there had been the Ponzi scheme he'd gotten involved in. Her parents had been drawn into that one and had gotten burned, one reason they didn't forgive him... or her for that matter for not dumping his sorry ass. Like she could do that, he was the father of their children! He might not be good as a provider, but he loved the kids and they loved him.

Love was indeed blind she thought as she went back to the fridge and pantry. She noted he hadn't scrimped on buying his beer, heaven forbid that! But he had bought a lot of pasta, which was good. Pat loved pasta. She wrinkled her nose. He'd bought the bargain bin stuff, the stuff that she and Pat hated though. Wonderful. She sighed and put the boxes back.