TRUST

Jeff and Lisa lived on a small ranch in Wyoming. They both had their own horse and the family had chickens. Their grandfather bought the house for their parents 20 years ago when they got married.

Their dad, John, was a coal miner of the new generation, no more going underground to those dangerous mines risking his life, like his father did. Modern technology took care of that, by providing the means to extract the coal from the surface. Mining has declined over the years, but John was thankful he still had his job.

Debbie, their mom was a nurse at the local hospital, and had to work long hours, which she was relieved that the kids, now 14 & 17 could stay by themselves, and take care of the house and animals, and didn't require a sitter. For the most part she knew they could get along enough to get things done, occasionally she came home to the usual argument, of whose turn it was to run the vacuum, or do dishes, but had learned to resolve it before their father got home.

Jeff was the oldest, he had gotten a junk car from the salvage yard, and was told he couldn't get his license until he got it restored, he worked on it ever possible chance he could, although, it's taking a lot longer to fix than he expected.

Lisa was a straight A student, she didn't think she was all that smart, or anything, she just loved to read, and absorbed what she read. Things just came natural to her. She had big plans to go off to college in the big city, not like Jeff, who felt he had no use for books, or their contents. He figured he'd make his way off his street smarts, rather than book smarts.

Well you aren't gettin any where on your looks, Lisa snickered, so you better get goin on that hunk of junk, and find yourself a job to pay for the gas you have to put in it. I much rather travel on horseback, than ever to ride with you.

Oh, you say that now, but wait till you get stranded somewhere in the rain, and wished you were nice n dry in the car with me, than sloshing through the mud, on Lightening, her horse.

And how do you expect to pay rent someplace, she went on ignoring his comment, or are you planning to stay here, the rest of your life? she asked sarcastically.

I don't know why you're so caught up in my business, little college queen. You think you're gonna have a job, as soon as you walk onto that campus? I bet you don't even know what you're going to take yet..

Yes I do, I'm gonna be an animal scientist, and eventually a Equine Pedigree Analysist.

Well good luck on that one, he said, you'll be in school, the rest of YOU'RE life, while I'll be out and about, seeing the world, and enjoying my freedom...

Fast forward a few years, John and Debbie, have since retired. Jeff is still home, trying to find "his way", and get by the best he could. He was a barn manager, at the neighbor's ranch, and doing ok, not what he liked to do, but it was fine for the moment, he never stays anywhere very long, anyway. He was happy making a little bit of money, and knew if one job didn't work out, there'd be another one waiting. He finally finished his car, and traded it in for a pick up truck. It wasn't the coolest looking thing, but it served it's purpose, for what he needed it for. Lisa, was almost finished with college, and doing her internship, on a farm in Montana. She just loved it there. The mountains were so beautiful. She had to admit that she was getting a bit homesick and looking forward to going home soon for Thanksgiving.

She really missed her mom and dad, and wondered if Jeff had "found himself" yet. It was highly doubtful, she thought, but I'll find out in a few weeks, I have to focus on finishing up my duties here, right now.

As she drove up the long winding driveway to her parent's ranch, she thought something looked different, but she didn't know at first, then she realized the barn, was gone? What? How could that be, where's my horse? she started to panic, Why didn't they tell me?

She went inside to greet her parents, almost in tears.

Hey! kiddo, they said, both coming over to hug her.

Did you have a nice drive? her mother asked. We missed you so much.

I missed y'all too, but where's the barn? and the horses?

Oh, huny, don't you worry, the horses are fine, but the barn came down in a terrible storm, we decided, that since we're older, that we don't have the ability to take care of that stuff anymore, and well, you know Jeff doesn't help out much either. We boarded your horse down at the Johnson's farm, you remember them, don't you?

Of course I do, I had a big crush on Tim, what's he doin now? Oh, never mind. So where's the other horse?

Well that was Jeff's and since he didn't ever pay him no mind, like you did with lightening, we sold him, to pay for some of his expenses.

HIS EXPENSES? He's a grown man, taking advantage of you, by being here. I bet he thinks he's gettin this house when y'all are gone too, huh? she said agitatedly.

Well huny, we want to talk to you about that. We didn't want to ruin you're vacation, on you're first day, but we decided that we are going to put the house in a trust. We know Jeff is the oldest, and usually assets are supposed to go to them first, but in this case, we were afraid that Jeff wouldn't take care of it and lose it. We didn't want it to go to the state, so once you're out of college, and decide where you will be settling down, the house will be yours. You'll have to make sure to pay on the mortgage, and the property taxes. If you let him stay, or make him move, that's on you. If you decide you don't want to live here, you also have the option to rent it out, and use it as an investment. We just don't want to have to worry about it anymore.

Ok, thanks, Wow! I really wasn't expecting that, I don't know what to say. I really appreciate it, I won't let you down. I'll be sure to do the right thing with it. Does Jeff know, your decision? she asked, still in shock.

No, we haven't told him yet, and hope to keep it that way for awhile. To keep the peace around here. We really wish he'd find a girl, and get married, and his own place.

Ha! Fat chance, of that happening, whose gonna want someone that barely has two nickels to rub together, half the time, and lives in his mommas house? She'd have to be pretty stupid, or God awful rich to take him in.

They laughed, well enough of that talk, let's get you settled. Can we help you with your bags?

No, that's ok, I didn't bring much. I'll just get them, and be in my room. I think I need a nap before dinner.

Lisa was just finishing a case, when her phone rang, Hello?

Hey college queen, I found out about your little trust deal, with mom and dad, and I just want you to know you can HAVE that stupid ranch, and everything in it, Jeff said angerly, cuz I found a girl, Skyler, and got married. We moved to California, to live on the beach, and we're doin just fine.

.. and she's good with you not working, and supporting your ass??... living out your dream of getting by on your street smarts, and your GED? she scoffed.

It's worked so far, and I do work, I work a lot, maybe not to your satisfaction, in a brick n mortar place like you, he said defensively.

Well Jeff, that's all fine and good, you keep believing that. We've been going at it since we were teenagers, and I'm really over it. I'm sad that you never tried to work up to your potential, and you have always thought the world owed you something. Well you know what? The world don't owe you anything, and neither do I! So until you can come down off your high horse and be a contributing factor to society, I have nothing left to say to you, Jeffery David.

Fine! It' your loss college queen, someday you're gonna wish you had a big brother, to cry on his shoulder. He said matter of factly.

Ha! that's what you think, in your dreams, I never had it, I won't ever miss it. We're DONE, have a nice life. She hung up the phone.

Urg! The nerve of him, doesn't he even care about anything? He's so arrogant, I could puke. Ugh! well it's over, and I don't have to deal with him mooching off of mom and dad anymore, and him and his little wifey can live happily ever after, in his fantasy land. Let's just pray that his kids get a bit more sense in them than he did.

Jeff sat on the steps of his condo, in disbelief. Wow! I really didn't expect that, he thought sadly, replaying the conversation in his head. Lisa and I could never agree on our different choices, of lifestyles, but for her to want me out of her life because of it, is just crazy, we have always been competitive with each other, maybe a little too much. I could never go to college, like her, being stuck in the same building, day after day, would give me claustrophobia. I need my space, not have someone breathing down my neck all the time. I'm pretty versatile, and have done just about everything. I have a lot of experience. My wife is a freelance photographer, and does very well. I'm not lazy, and I have appreciated everything everyone has done for me. All my life no one has understood me. I will give Lisa the space she needs to realize that I am trying to do my best, and someday, I hope she will see that I can be somebody, or accept me as I am.