This historical fiction was written by Angela Wall and is based on stories shared by Katherine Wallace and Edythe Wood.
Dave was sitting at the table. He heard his wife Jera come up the front steps.
``Where have you been?`` Dave asked as Jera walked around the store and plopped herself down at the table.
``I just got back from the bank,`` she sighed.
``Feel pretty good to get some of those bills paid off, doesn`t it?`` Dave smiled.
``I wouldn`t know,`` Jera said getting a little more upset.
``Why, I thought you were goin` down to the bank to have em` buy my warrant?`` he continued.
``I tried, but they wouldn`t buy it! Did you know that your school district hasn`t taken up a warrant since 1932? What are we supposed to do now! The bank did have a woman there who would buy the warrants but it will be ninety cents to the dollar. I thought I should come home and ask you first,`` said Jera. She finally relaxed a little.
``Well we`re goin` for another trip to town tomorrow mornin`. I`ll talk to the lady tomorrow and I`m sure she`ll buy it from me.`` Dave finally let out.
The next morning Jera and Dave got up and went to the corral.
``Oh, no!`` Jera exclaimed, ``The gate has been left open!``
``Where`s the horses?`` Dave asked.
``They must have wandered off in the middle of the night.`` Jera answered.
``We`re gonna hafta walk inta town,`` Dave went on to say. ``Go grab a couple of scarves. That will help keep the dust out of our lungs. Today`s dust storm is horrible.``
As the two of them got closer and closer to town, they could see the bank. They looked like a couple who had just wallowed in a pile of dirt. They wiped their faces, brushed off their clothes, and walked into the bank.
``Well, how are you this fine mornin,` sir?`` replied the banker.
``I`m fine, I need to talk to the woman who will buy my warrant.`` Dave was finally relieved to speak.
``Oh, yes, she will be with you in a moment, if you`ll just have a seat over there.`` he replied.
``Oh, I hope she buys your warrant, Dave,`` doubted Jera.
Dave said, ``Don`t worry about it, Jera. She will.``
The woman walked over to them and politely asked them to come with her.
``So what can I do for you today Mr. Willably?`` asked the woman.
``The bank won`t buy this warrant from me. I`d be obliged if you would buy it from me,`` Dave replied.
``Well of course I would, that would be fine,`` she answered.
The woman handed him forty dollars and sent them on their way.