The Shopkeeper's House [Explored]

The Shopkeeper's House [Explored], a photo by Tim_in_Ohio on Flickr.

The shopkeeper worked through the night while his wife and children slept one floor below. Obligation forecast, quarterly allotment, cash flow, debts, revenues … obligation forecast, quarterly allotment, cash flow, debts, revenues over and over until it became painfully clear … the numbers did not lie … he was broke. He could hear the birds rustling in the trees outside his window. The inevitable was near. At sunrise, the Banker and the Sheriff would knock on his door one last time, tell him he had five minutes to collect his personal possessions and vacate the premises.