Six Pairs of Thick Gray Socks Saved My White House on Elm Street

take a penny more.

“That will keep the Ohio winter outside where it belongs, Martha,” he had said, gathering his brass screws.

I took a slow sip of the tea. The steam rose and warmed my face, smelling of orange peel and black tea leaves.

There was no pile of unpaid bills on my counter today. There were no real estate folders tucked under the local newspaper.continue reading …