We've been needing more room for a while now. Apparently, Da had his eye on a small cot in a neighborhood in Bree where we could set up kegs of pickles and fermenting veg, and spread out to do more of the meat drying and such. He didn't talk about it much before. I think he were a bit afraid of jinxing it. Ma and me didn't know he'd managed to save much coin, but he was rambling about it t'other day. Ma didn't put much store by it, but he seemed so sure, and worried about his stash of coins that I went looking for it.
I found the bag of coins in the bottom of the pepper pot! Took some sneezing to get them out! When I'd counted it up all I was astounded to find it was just enough to buy the small cot. I rushed right over to the Hookworth neighborhood. Da had wanted the cot right across from the Sizzling Turtle 'cos that'd make deliveries a bit easier, too. It was still for sale! So I bought it right off.
I went back to tell him about it and he was so excited! He started going on about the furniture he'd stored over at Gammy Boggs' place. Ma went over and spoke with Gammy, who was fair testy about how long there's been cupboards an' chairs taking up room in her shed. We got some folks to help move it into the new cot and it looks a real treat now. I set up a little table with some samples of sausages and some of them soft pretzels, and a couple of big folk chairs. So people can stop in and taste the sausages before they buy.
It made me feel so proud to be able to fulfill Da's dream of expanding he must have been working so hard on. Ma was pleased at how much more room there is at home now, since I got all the kegs moved off to the new place.
I was hoping this might help Da shake off the fog on his mind, and it did for a bit. He was fair clear-headed for a few days, but the fog is closing in again, and he's fussing about my brothers, and called me by one of their names once. I might need a new dress.
I started asking around for names of real trusty folks to help out with the farm. Either with Da, or out to the new place. I think I'll call it Bottle Cot.
