Worse Problems

Laura tried a dozen more places that either had signs out that they were hiring. She was getting **** and even tried a few retail stores. Nothing came of almost four hours' worth of legwork and a quarter tank of gas. She drove home, dejected and ready to start dinner for when Dan got home.

The first sign something was wrong hit her when she saw the news vans as she turned up the side street toward her house. Police officers had a barricade blocking off her street. She rolled down the window as she slowed to a stop. A tall, bulky female officer stepped up to her window. "Ma'am, I'm going to need you to move on. It's unsafe to be around here," she ordered.

"I live just down that cul-de-sac," Laura managed to get out.

"Which house?"

"404."

"Right, go ahead and park over there. Officer Thomas will be over shortly. Please don't get out of your car," the policewoman said as she pointed to a spot across the street.

Laura felt her hands shaking as she angled her car into the slot between two patrol cars. A burly officer came over and leaned down. "Ma'am, I'm told you live in one of the houses," he asked. His sharp dark eyes flicked around the interior of her car.

"Yeess," she managed to get out.

"I'm sorry to say this, but your house is gone."

Worry, dread, anger, despair, and a desire to make sure her son was safe crashed into her at the same time. She fumbled with her phone and clicked Dan's contact. He picked up after two rings.

"Mom?"

"Honey? Thank god. I forgot when you were off work. You're off work right?" she babbled. She felt relief waring with a sudden urge to cry.

"Yeah, what's wrong?" Dan asked.

"The house... it's," she murmured as she looked up. The officer winced and nodded. "It's well... gone."

"Uh? What? Like... someone picked it up and left with it? How does that happen?"

The strange question threw her for a loop. She stared at the phone for a moment. "What? Picked what up?" she said. Tears started falling as the reality of what was going on crashed down. "No, the house. It... collapsed... while we were gone," she sobbed.

Dan said something but she couldn't hear it. All she could hear was a rushing in her ears and the knowledge that everything she'd worked so hard to maintain was gone. How could this happen to her?

"I... yes, I'm here," she managed to get out. "Drive safe. I love you. I can't believe this," she mumbled as she closed the flip phone. She sat there, numb.

"Ma'am," the officer gently said. "I can take you over to a safe spot so you can see for yourself."

Laura woodenly agreed as she got out. The cool air brushed across her nipples as she realized she'd taken off the accursed bra after her last attempt at finding a job. It was a distant, if important, fact that buzzed around her muddled thoughts.

"What is your son's name?" the officer asked as he took her by the shoulder and guided her toward her street.

"Dan," she mumbled.

The house looked collapsed on right side, where hers and Dan's bedrooms were. She couldn't go much farther before she broke down, crying into the strong officer's chest. She knew she looked silly, and knew it wouldn't help, but everything seemed to be going wrong. This was just the nail on the coffin for her.

"Ma'am," the officer gently said as her tears slowly abated. "I need to check in with my sergent. Let me lead you back to the barricade."

A few minutes later, she saw the most beautiful sight she'd seen all day. Dan guided by the same officer she'd cried on, came hurrying up to her. "Honey," she greeted with a strong hug. He was safe. That was all that mattered right then.

"How?" Dan asked, his voice hoarse.

"Waterline break," a deep voice answered. They turned to see one of the firefighters from that morning standing close by, looking tired. His eyes tracked over her body before looking her son over. "This is soft ground. We put out a grease fire this morning, next to your place. The water in the hydrant went out fairly quickly. Well... I'm sorry to say this, but apparently, there's been a leak in the main water line here for a while for it to cause this much damage to the earth."

"Do you have somewhere to stay for now? We can't let you on the property until we're sure the ground won't shift anymore. Experts will be out tomorrow," the officer asked. She looked up to see his name was Thomas.

"No, we don't," Laura answered as she hugged Dan tighter before releasing him. "I'm glad you're safe," she said before turning to the officer. "We'll figure something out."