Dianna Ch. 1
Joseph Yearly was an ornery old man who was as tough as old shoe leather. He didn’t like people, had no friends, and vanished from his family over a decade ago. He was a loner. He only talked to people if it was about money. Once a month he conversed with the Bouvier girl that collected his rent and that was it. He liked that girl, and he almost regretted the stunt he had just pulled on his tenants. He sat on the train thinking about the events that led to this trip to Vegas. At sixty-nine years old, he’d lost everything that he had worked for his entire life.
It’s this damn economy., he mused. I worked for Baxter’s Industry for the last thirty-eight years of my life and they just up and closed the company. Hell they even stole my pension and retirement. So what if those fuckers end up on the street, it really isn’t my fault. Blame the president. He then turned sideways in his seat and tried to sleep, only to discover that sleep was elusive.
Joseph Yearly was luckier than most, because he owned a small apartment building. Even though he’d lost his job, the income from the renters helped him stay afloat for a while after the company closed. Now, he was tired. For over two years he fought foreclosure, the loss of his job made his situation worse. Finally, the bank won and he had no choice but to surrender his properties. Fighting two mortgages, his medical bills, and legal fees, exhausted Joseph.
He made a decision last month when the repossession actions started. He wouldn’t say anything to his tenants, because then they might refuse to pay him. He’d collect this month’s rent from them, acting as if everything was normal, give them receipts, and then get the hell out of town.
He’d head to Vegas for a short vacation before showing up at his son’s house. His boy was kindhearted like his mother. He’d be able to stay with him for a couple of weeks before he put him out. He’d use the, I miss you son and want to spend time with you routine. That kid might fall for that crap, Joseph thought.
He drove up to the apartment complex to speak with Dianna Bouvier about collecting the rent for the month. He wanted all of the payments in by the second of the month. Dianna had rented from him for a couple of years and he knew all of the tenants trusted her, so he had her to collect their rental payments and get them to him.
His tenants knew he was money hungry and simply paid, no questions asked. Joseph collected gave them receipts and moved on as usual. Not even hinting that trouble was on the horizon.
A few days later, trouble showed up.
“What the fuck is this?” Dianna Bouvier yelled as she came home from work to an awful surprise. Ms. Savannah Dew, a loan officer from Southcorp Bank, and a local deputy, Deputy Bobby Johnson, were standing in front of her apartment building as she arrived home.
Savannah approached her slowly carrying official looking papers in her hands. Handing the papers over to Dianna, Savannah informed Dianna that she and the other tenants who lived in the building were being evicted.
“What the hell do you mean that we have to be out of our apartments in one month?” she furiously demanded from the banker who was about to place a foreclosed sign on the front lawn of the building.
“I’m sorry, Dianna. Your landlord, Joseph Yearly, surrendered his properties to the bank last month. We thought he’d let all of his tenants know. It’s obvious that he did not. I am so sorry, but you and the other tenants have thirty days to vacate the premises.” Ms. Dew explained nervously as she gripped the foreclosure sign under her arm.
Dianna was upset. No, she was beyond upset, she was pissed. A million angry thoughts flew through her mind all at once. She’d just given Yearly the rental payments for everyone a few days ago and he didn’t even hint that the bank was about to take the building.
“Hold up, Ms. Dew. I’ve got to ask Mr. Yearly about this?” Dianna stated trying to keep her temper in check. Dianna pulled out her phone and dialed his number. She got a recording that the number no longer existed.
“Ms. Dew”, Dianna began to ask realizing the direness of the situation, “What about the money we’ve paid as a deposit on the rentals? Will the bank refund any of our money? I’ll be fine, but the other tenants who live here are on fixed income. They simply don’t have the money to move.” She explained to the banker and deputy.
“Does the bank have any idea where Yearly is? He’s not answering his phone. Can you or someone get in touch with him? I know that it’s not part of your job, but you’ve just made several people homeless. Is there any way you or someone can reach him?” Dianna asked desperately.
Savannah shook her head, “I’m sorry Ms. Bouvier. We can’t give you that information.” Looking at Dianna’s face, Savannah could see the stress and worry that clouded her eyes. She wished she could help, but she was just the messenger.
Frustrated Dianna wanted to scream. This isn’t right. Yearly shouldn’t be able to get away with this. She had to figure out where they could go.
Feeling defeated, she simply turned and walked away from the two people in front of her home after telling them to leave.
Dianna contemplated their situation for a minute and then decided to go to Yearly’s house. She caught the number seven bus to his neighborhood and walked to his house from the bus stop early in the evening. The first thing she noticed was the big red and yellow foreclosure sign in the front yard. Her stomach dropped as it dawned on her the predicament she and the other tenants were in. An elderly neighbor came out and informed her that the people who lived there had moved away two days ago.
Dianna was stumped. She along with the other tenants paid their rent with a money order, so there was no way to stop payment. Now, they had no money, no home, and were fast losing hope.
