My Three Houses Vanished Overnight

The family's three old houses were slated for demolition.

I went home to find the deeds, and they were gone.

My daughter told me, "Mom, you've got it wrong."

"When did we ever own any property? We only rent this one place."

My husband said I was making trouble out of nothing, fussing all day long.

If I really had nothing to do, he said, I could go help look after my grandson.

I refused to believe it. I went to the housing authority alone to check the records.

There was no property in my name.

Relatives and neighbors all said I was getting senile.

Until the day I slipped and fell.