Just before heading to the post-game rally at church tonight, there was an unfortunate accident involving the Peterson’s heating system. One of the pressure gauges in the basement decided it was time to blow.  Fortunately, they discovered it before all the water drained from the whole system. They had to kill the furnace and drain the water. His father can plug the leak and refill the system in the morning, but for now, they have no heat.

To complicate things, they have no idea who to contact for repairs to the building. The Cleveland Trust just bought the place from the former owner, but the title hasn’t cleared and there as been no communication about who’s running things.

Although he has a list of things to tell Dot, he just broke an icicle from  his nose and needs to climb under some blankets. His check is still missing; there’s nothing to do but wait for it. He now has $1.50 between himself and nothing. $1.25 will go for a car pass and $.25 will put a dime in the offering and buy his lunch. He even had to break a date with Homer because he couldn’t buy his own dinner.

He missed her at the rally tonight.

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Nancy Clapp is home from the “nut house” for the weekend and Dot is spending the night with her. Her old friend would chastise her if she saw Dot referring to the mental hospital that way. Nurse Nancy recently asked one of the patients there what her name was and the patient answered “Mrs. Lake, a small body of water surrounded by land.”

Along with her love, Dot has enclosed some vacation photos she’s been promising.