I approached Vern in his workshop and explained that our furnace needed replacing. I asked whether he could increase our combined monthly pay by $500. We weren’t asking for luxury, just enough money to cover basic expenses and live with dignity. Vern listened briefly before returning to his machinery. Then he gave me an answer I would never forget: there was no money available for a raise.
I knew the farm’s finances better than anyone because I managed the bookkeeping. The previous harvest had been profitable, and thousands of bushels of corn were waiting to be sold. I walked away wondering how a family could claim to have no money while expecting two people to keep an entire operation running.
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