The Claw

Chapter 3. The Terms

The Schultz Sons arrived in Florida's Orlando International Airport around 1:P.M. They immediately rented a car and headed to the mobile home park.

They took the southern exit into town. From there they made a left at the light and continued to the park. The park drive had two entries a block apart. They took the first entry and headed to the home. A young man was mowing the lawn and introduced himself as Bill. They looked through the house and started to gather all of the financial books including checking account and other various monetary information. They opened the safe and retrieved mom's jewelry and dad's coin collection. After accounting for each item on the list they then looked at the house titles and the insurance policy.

The list had been a great help to them. Dad had created this list and then posted it on a private secure site. After his death it was copied and used for their initial search. Everything was in order. Tomorrow they would meet with Mr. Anderson and collect everything for the trip back. After returning each item to the safe, they added the other financial information from the desk drawers. They put dad's rings and money clip in the safe along with his tie clasps. When that was complete the safe was relocked.

It was time to leave the house and find something to eat. Across the road from the mobile home park was the little diner that they would visit during there stays with mom and dad. They were welcomed and seated by Bob Grant. Barbara brought them their drinks and took their orders. Bette was in the kitchen cooking. She had taken culinary services at the technical center. After graduation she had married David and began working for mom and dad.

The Schultz brothers were fond of Bette though she was too young for either of them. They were both married for years at this time. Bette was 21 and the boys were in their late Forties. The truth was that neither of them were boys at all.

After college both of them assumed jobs in banking. They were now top level officers in the Fremont Bank and Trust. For years they had seen to the well being of the community. Their positions were prestigious though not everyone in banking was. There were constant scandals in banks across the country. The Schultz Brothers were proud to be honest and dependable pillars of the community. Father had taught them well. They were nothing if honesty wasn't their main belief.

After lunch they spent the day playing golf and recreating. Father had been a major part of their lives and golf was their game. They had spent many hours with him in this place. After completing 18 holes they returned to the club house. Fathers locker was now used by someone else. He had departed the use of the course after his stroke two years earlier. He would be a former duffer for the remainder of his life.

The next morning they completed their business with Mr. Anderson. He would have Kevin clean out the house and place the property on the market. Though the housing market these days was slow, this area and this park were prime locations for golfing, Disney World and many other vacation locations. The mobiles were inexpensive, the lot belonged with the home, and a person wanting the Florida experience could do it affordably.

Within days the property was ready for sale. Kevin had cleaned it up, made a list of needed repairs, one for Mr. Anderson and one for David. Mr. Anderson would look the list over and make all decisions on repairs. David would complete the repairs and return the list along with a detailed bill to Mr. Anderson. The money would be given to David and the property would be listed.

David was well respected by Mr. Anderson. They had known one another from church. When David and Bette married he was in attendance. The families had been friends for years. David's business accounts were in Anderson's bank. Though the community was rather large the North end had a down home feel.

Roy and Miles Schultz returned home and resumed their work with the bank. Mom was staying with Roy and his wife Jennie for the time being. Both of the ladies seemed fine with the arrangement. Roy would eventually need to find another place for mom to land.

The next afternoon Roy ran into Clare Howard at the local drug store. "How's your mom," Clare asked.

"She's doing as good as can be expected," was Roy's response.

"How about you, Roy?"

"Good. We just returned from Florida. Miles and I took care of the home down there."

"Jane and I are thinking about retiring and moving down there. How is that area of Florida where your parents lived?"

"That area is probably the best part of Florida. Everything worth seeing is within driving distance. Dad decided on that area because of that, and the medical facilities are great."

Clare was instantly sold on the area. He had known Mr. Schultz forever. If he was happy there, he was sure that they would be happy too. Now Clare was certain that their retirement plans could be made. He would discuss the entire matter with Jane.

The Howards would drive through to Florida. Usually they would fly but the idea of seeing the sites seemed to interest them.

They made the arrangements. The business had been slow. Their calendar was cleared for three weeks. Every year they would get away and this year was the year to choose their retirement home.

They were not exactly tired or old yet. In fact, they were in their fifties. However, the problems with the business, windows being broken and periods of nothing to schedule, made for an uneasy future in the business. The thought of retirement and relaxing was more in line with how they were feeling. They were young enough to enjoy golfing and site seeing.

The business had paid off handsomely. Selling the business now and investing the money would allow them to live in a beautiful warmer area such as Florida. Michigan was cold and snowy during the winter. There was constant upkeep of sidewalks and and drives. Getting out in the cold to shovel and salt walkways was becoming a real drag. At 25, Clare enjoyed the outdoors, even the shoveling. Now, at 57 he was more interested in the indoors with all of the trimmings, such as a roaring fire place, coffee and a newspaper. Of course, sitting next to Jane was the selling point of the indoor experience. She was delicious like an ice cream sunday. He wasn't afraid to point that out to her. After all of these years she still enjoyed hearing him say it.

Everything was packed and the car had been gased. Clare had taken the car to Mr. Lane for an oil change. Doug and his wife were classmates of Clare and Jane. The Lanes had remained friends with the Howards through the years. Now they too, were thinking of eventual retirement. Soon the entire graduating class of 1975 would retire and move to Florida. The Howard's had the jump on the others it would seem. And they liked it!