Originally published in The New Haven Review, this story features a young married couple who struggle through the rough landscape of Southern Illinois in the late 1950s. They argue over the purchase of a five-dollar-a-month Sears and Roebuck kitchen table, but it ends up saving lives.

Regarding this story, author and editor Brian Slatterly said, “Loved this story because Lance wrote about people who don’t get written about enough and he did it with humor, compassion, and heart.” “I’m such a fan of Lance Schaubert’s work. His unique view of things and his life-wisdom enriches all he does. We’re lucky to count him among our contributors.” (Therese Walsh, author of The Moon Sisters and Editorial Director of Writer Unboxed)