Marjorie smiled faintly.

“Then let’s make an ordinary budget.”

We listed the mortgage, food, utilities, transport, clothes, and school costs.

I brought receipts rather than estimates I had made to reassure Elliott.

The Buick had almost 190,000 miles on it.

Its sound when starting was not something I could resolve by deciding it would last another year.

I needed a repair reserve.

The boys needed coats that fit.