Joey was not improving. Jerry was growing restless; tired of being chained to his sick sibling. Doctors still could not figure out why Jerry remained uninfected. "Very strange for one twin to fall ill, and the other remain healthy. Thank God," Dr. Basmati said to Mary.
Mary was becoming distrustful of the Two Good Two Be True foundation. They were helpful and paid most of Joey's medical bills, but they seemed too inquisitive, prying into the family's personal life; asking questions about their religious affiliation. "We just want to make sure you have moral support," the too-friendly, peppy young lady said. But something about her did not feel right. For a fleeting instant, her eyes looked reptilian to Mary. Mary blinked and a felt a sudden chill. She looked again, and the woman's eyes were normal.
In the spring, Marge was able to visit more often. Seeing her adorable baby, Alice, made Mary feel better.
But the constant pressure to find work was telling on Joe. "Even with Two Good, we're barely making it," Joe told Mary. "I don't like being always in debt, and I don't like being dependent on them to bail us out. Something's fishy about the director. I don't like him." Mary tried to soothe him. He said, "I know. I know. We're stuck. There's nothing we can do about it. -- Not while Joey is sick."
---
The Two Good Two Be True board of directors were in a meeting. They left strict instructions not to be disturbed. Foundation Director Fred Goodwill, alias Snakefoot, opened the meeting.
"Status report," Goodwill/Snakefoot said.
"Subjects are responding well," his partner, Executive Vice President in Charge of Spiritual Affairs, Stephen Upright, alias Glubwart, answered. "We are giving them just enough support to keep them treading water, barely keeping their heads up. They are frustrated. A little more pressure should make them angry and desperate. I recommend, therefore, that we apply additional pressure."
"What do you propose?" Goodwill/Snakefoot asked.
"Cut their funding in half," Upright/Glubwart answered. "We've got to separate them. The male is a stabilizing influence. I have tried hard to sideline him."
"Don't want to push too hard," Snakefoot said. "It's a volatile situation. Anything could happen, not necessarily in our interests."
"Let me handle it," Glubwart said. He was tired of Snakefoot grabbing all the credit. He wanted to make a coup on his own.
---
"What's this? Gotta be some mistake!" Joe said.
"What is it?" Mary asked.
"Our check -- the check from the foundation -- it's half of what it's supposed to be!"
"That can't be! Let me see that!" Mary said.
Joe handed it to her. "See for yourself," he said.
Mary stared at the numbers, unbelieving. "We've got to go to Two Good. We can't survive on this."
---
"I'm sorry, I can't help you," the receptionist at Two Good To Be True told Mary. "For complaints about your grant, you will have to see one of the officers.
"Let me see the director," Mary said. "I have to see the director."
"The director is very busy, ma'am," the receptionist replied.
"Let me see somebody! I've got to talk to somebody!"
"I can try to get you an appointment with Mr. Upright," the receptionist said.
Three weeks later, Mary was waiting outside "Mr. Upright's" office. The time for her appointment came and went. Mary asked the receptionist, "When may I see Mr. Upright? I have an appointment."
"Mr. Upright will see you soon," the receptionist said.
An hour went by. And another. Mary asked again. She received the same answer, "Mr. Upright will see you soon."
Mary had been sitting there all afternoon. It was getting late. Mary saw the receptionist apparently getting ready to leave for the day. She went up to her again. "I've been waiting all day to see Mr. Upright."
"I'm sorry," the receptionist said. "Mr. Upright has left for the day."
The same scenario was repeated on three additional occasions. Mary and Joe were getting more and more desperate. On the fifth attempt, after Mary again waited the whole afternoon, the receptionist said, "Mr. Upright will see you now."
Mary was led into a large, imposing office lined with rich dark wood. Glubwart appeared as a heavyset, balding, middle-aged man.
"What can I do for you, Miss..."
"Mrs. Langston," Mary corrected him.
"Ah yes. Quite right. Therein lies the problem," Upright/Glubwart said.
"What do you mean?" Mary asked.
"About your grant. You're married. We were given wrong information. Our records showed that you were a single mother."
"Well?" Mary asked when Upright/Glubwart paused.
"Well, naturally we can't offer the same assistance to someone who has support that we provide for women who have no one to support them."
"But..." Mary sputtered, "Joe does the best he can. There are no good jobs out there. We can't make it on half of what we have been receiving."
"I'm very sorry indeed, Mrs. Langston," Upright/Glubwart said in his kindest, sincerest voice. "Those are the rules. If you were single, that would be a different matter. We could restore your full funding."
Mary didn't have to think. "No!" she said firmly. "I'm not going back to that!"
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