Single Dad
When the twins were young toddlers, Heather’s mother Makayla passed away from a pulmonary embolism, leaving Cory to raise the kids alone himself. Though she was in terrible condition, Makayla’s mother tried her best to help as much as she could.
Cory was on the edge of breaking after Makayla’s untimely death, but he knew he had to stand strong for his kids. As she helped her dad and took care of her younger siblings, Heather had developed into a kind of partner-in-crime. She aspired to assist the family overcome any obstacle and make her mother proud. But nothing could have equipped her for the task they were about to undertake together.
Making Ends Meet
Cory has been constantly working for the last three years in order to make ends meet. He didn’t mind the long hours and daily work as long as his children were happy and well-cared for because he was certain that they should have everything they needed.
He was currently putting in long hours driving packages for a parcel delivery service. Heather prayed that things might be simpler for her father since she hated looking at his wrinkled and worn-out face. She never would have imagined that someone would show there and drastically worsen everything.
New Neighbor
One day, a moving van pulled up in the neighborhood, just across from the Summers’ home. The Summers were happy to have new neighbors because the nearby property had been vacant for some time.
With her siblings to play with, Heather hoped it would be a family with children. But something about the man’s attitude alerted her that he didn’t have a family when she saw him get out of the removal van’s cab. It was going to prove she was right.
Meet Bill Whitman
Bill Whitman had relocated from Louisville to the Summers’ neighborhood. He was well-known for his arrogant behavior, was a confirmed bachelor, and didn’t waste time worrying about other people.
Bill had long before made the decision that his primary motivation would be self-gratification. Although it had helped him establish an effective trucking business, not many of his friends and family were still in contact. In Chicago, he was eager for a fresh start, but it wouldn’t take him long to start stirring things up.
Trucking Business
Bill chose Chicago in part because of the favorable commercial opportunities it offered. He owned Whitman Transportation, a trucking company, and he had recently signed a contract with an Illinois freight company.
Though it wasn’t exactly above board, Bill chose to operate his business from his new neighborhood instead of paying high fees to operate out of a truck park. There was ample space for parking and his driveway was quite large. He was aware that a large number of semis occupying the spots may annoy his new neighbors, but they would either have to accept it or lump it.
Neighborhood Disruption
Bill arrived with his fleet of vehicles a few days after he moved in. There was fear in the neighborhood when five enormous semi-trucks came up beside Bill’s house. Through the glass, Heather could see what was going on.
She prayed her father would keep his mouth shut and stay out of trouble. Cory had no patience for conceited individuals, and it was obvious that Bill Whitman believed he could get away with anything. Heather was happy to see that her dad didn’t seem to mind the trucks when he arrived home from work, though. That was all going to change, though, the following morning.
Parked Outside
Cory got up early as usual in order to start his deliveries on schedule. When he went outside into the icy dawn, he was blocked from entering by a Whitman Transportation vehicle that was parked directly across the driveway.
Cory was taken aback and irritated since he felt certain that his neighbor must have seen he was obstructing the roadway. However, it’s possible that he had been preparing to move the truck that morning and was unaware that he would have to depart so early. He went over to knock on the door, choosing to give his new neighbor the benefit of the doubt.
Asking Nicely
His bleary-eyed neighbor knocked on the door for a few minutes before opening it. He said in a kind tone, “Good morning, Mr. Whitman. I don’t think we’ve met.” He went on, “I’m a delivery driver, so I can’t do much without my vehicle, so if you could move it ASAP that would be great. Your truck is blocking my car in, and I need to get out to go to work.”
Bill gave him a sly smile. I apologize, but I don’t drive for the firm; I own it. You’ll need to hold off till one of my drivers shows up. Why not just go back to bed and call in sick? “You seem as though you might benefit from a little deception,” he teased.
He Refused
Cory was shocked—if this guy ran a trucking company, how could he not drive a truck? He guessed his new neighbor was just being difficult for the sake of it and he was starting to get angry. “Mr. Whitman, your truck is blocking my car, you need to move it right now,” he said seriously.
But Bill just chuckled and shut the door in Cory’s face. Cory headed home, feeling dejected. Heather was there waiting for him with a steaming cup of coffee. She had heard everything and she couldn’t believe her dad had been treated so rudely. She hoped that the truck would be gone by the end of the day.
It Kept Happening
However, Heather’s prayers were not answered. Bill continued to leave the semi-truck blocking the driveway whenever it wasn’t in use. Over the next few weeks, Cory missed around 12 delivery shifts, all because of Bill.
Heather watched as her dad pleaded and reasoned with his new neighbor, begging him to park somewhere else, but Bill seemed to take pleasure in inconveniencing him. Whatever Cory said, Bill simply brushed him off with a smug grin. The concerned daughter even tried going and talking to him herself but nothing seemed to work. The Summers didn’t know that things were about to get even worse.
Getting Fired
One evening, Heather answered her dad’s phone while he was putting the twins to bed. “Hi, Cory Summer’s phone, how may I help you?” she answered politely. The person on the other end did not sound amused.
“It’s Denny’s Deliveries. You can tell your dad he shouldn’t bother coming in tomorrow. He’s missed too many shifts lately and it’s just not acceptable. We’re done with him,” he said sharply. Heather tried to cut in, but the phone had already gone dead. She trudged up the stairs to tell her dad the bad news: he had been fired.
Rock Bottom
When Heather explained about the phone conversation she’d just had, Cory put his head in his hands. Without that job, it was going to be a struggle to make rent the next month. His mind was whirring, trying to figure out what to do next.
Heather asked if there was anything she could do to help. She offered to get a job herself, but Cory wanted her to focus on her schoolwork. He wished Makayla were there to hold him—she’d know what to do. Worn down by the weight of grief, hard work, and the constant battles with his neighbor, he felt utterly broken.
Lying Awake
That night, Cory couldn’t sleep. His mind was whirring with dark thoughts. He worried he wasn’t being a good father to Heather, Ada, Carter, and Cameron. He feared they’d be thrown out onto the street if he couldn’t pay the rent. As he was spiraling, he suddenly realized that there was someone responsible for this nightmare: Bill.
If Bill had only had the decency to move his truck, then Cory wouldn’t be in this mess. He would never have lost his job. His sadness and depression quickly turned into a wave of fiery anger. Bill needed to be taught a lesson.
Hatching a Plan
Even as it got later and later, Cory didn’t drift off. He was too busy coming up with a plan to make Bill wish he’d never parked his semi-truck in front of his driveway. Cory didn’t like to involve his kids in this kind of thing, but now he needed their help.
He knocked softly on Heather and Ada’s door. He wanted to see what his eldest daughter thought of his plan. Even though it was the middle of the night, Heather was awake. He knew she must be worrying about the events of the day before. In hushed tones so as not to wake Ada, he explained everything.
Wrapping Up Warm
When the first sign of dawn arrived, Cory and Heather were ready. It was time to act. Heather gently woke up Ada and Cory went to wake the twins. They all dressed in their warmest clothes. It was going to be a cold day.
Heather filled flasks with hot cocoa while Cory got to work making signs and getting the camping chairs from the garage. The twins were excited to be going outside in the snow and Ada was sleepy but enthusiastic. The Summer family was united. They were going to make Bill pay for what he had done to them.
Time to Protest
The Summers were going to stage a protest. Cory didn’t want to use violence or aggression and he didn’t want to get law enforcement involved if he didn’t need to. He just wanted to give Bill a taste of his own medicine and show him exactly who he was hurting when he hadn’t moved his truck.
The family pitched up in front of the entrance to Bill’s driveway where he kept two of his trucks. By the time the sun came up, they were ready. Whitman Transportation would not be running smoothly today, that was for sure. Now all they had to do was wait until Bill himself woke up.
No More Trucks
When Bill’s drivers started to arrive, they looked at the Summer family’s protest in confusion. Cory greeted them politely and explained the situation. He apologized for the inconvenience, but said that any disruption to business lay solely on Bill’s shoulders. As soon as he started behaving reasonably, the Summers would leave their post.
Heather was feeling nervous. Bill’s drivers were one thing, but Bill himself was another. He had already proved himself a very unfeeling and inconsiderate person. What would he do when he saw their protest? She didn’t have to wait long to find out.
Bill’s Rage
When Bill emerged from his home an hour later, he spotted the Summer family instantly and his face turned red. He strode over to where Cory was standing scoffed in disgust.
“What’s this garbage? Using your kids to try and guilt me into not running my business? You’re pathetic. Now get out of my driveway or I’m calling the police,” he spat. But Cory, Heather, Ada, and the twins just stared silently at him and held up their signs. They weren’t going to let him intimidate them.
We Won’t Budge
As Bill got more and more angry, Cory felt all the more determined to stay put. This was a peaceful protest—the dad of four wasn’t going to lower himself to Bill’s level and shout back. It would be more effective if he was calm and composed.
Hours went by and Bill’s trucks couldn’t make their deliveries. Cory and the children were blocking their way and they were not going to budge until Bill agreed to move his business out of the neighborhood. But then, something unexpected happened.
Community Support
As it got later and the sun rose higher, more and more people started emerging from their homes. Cory thought they must be just heading to work, but Heather noticed something that made her heart pound with excitement.
The people of the neighborhood were carrying their own flasks and chairs. They had hastily painted signs in their gloved hands. They were going to join the protest in support of the Summer family. They had watched Cory step up after Makayla died and they knew he was a good man. They were also fed up with the constant coming and going of semi-trucks and Bill’s rude behavior. Bill couldn’t ignore them if the whole community banded together, could he?
Media Frenzy
Bill was spitting mad as people started to gather next to his driveway, but there was nothing he could do. They weren’t on his property. That night, a few of the neighbors pitched up special tents for arctic conditions and sent the Summers home to warm up.
The next morning they arrived to find even more neighbors there, as well as a few newspaper reporters. “Cory’s here!” one neighbor said excitedly. “This whole thing was his idea—you should interview him,” he continued. Cory was hesitant, but the reporter encouraged him to share his story. This was his chance to get the word out and he wasn’t about to throw it away.
Business in Trouble
A few days went by and the community took it in shifts to occupy the sidewalk outside Bill’s driveway. Although he had three trucks in action, his two largest vehicles were stuck in his driveway and his business was struggling.
His clients had caught wind of the protest in the media and they didn’t want to work with someone disrupting the lives and livelihoods of his neighbors. Cory felt a little guilty, but he knew it needed to be done. Bill needed to learn an expensive lesson—it was the only way to get him to reflect on his actions and change his behavior.
Let’s Talk
The next day, Cory was happy to learn that his plan was working. Bill came outside and faced the waiting crowd. Heather looked worried, but Cory squeezed her hand reassuringly. “It’ll be okay, honey,” he murmured.
“Okay, Cory, I’ve had enough of this. Let’s talk. I need you all gone so I can run my business so just tell me what you want,” said Bill coldly. Cory stood up, tall and proud. He was doing this for his kids and he had the strength of his community behind him. He knew Makayla would have been proud.
Breaking Through
Bill led Cory inside and the two men talked. Cory explained his situation and how Bill’s thoughtless behavior had cost him his income. He described how the neighborhood used to be peaceful and now the trucks were constantly coming and going, making noise and disturbing residents.
Through calm words and reasoning, Cory was able to show Bill what a negative impact he was having, not just on the Summer family, but on the whole community. Bill finally realized that he needed to make a change.
Moving the Business
After the conversation, Cory led Bill outside to address the crowd. “Neighbors,” Bill announced loudly. “This man here has shown me that I have been acting in my own selfish interests and making life difficult for all of you. It’s time for that to change. That’s why, as of Monday, I’ll be moving my operations to an appropriate location outside of town,” he continued.
The crowd burst into applause and Heather, Ada, Cameron, and Carter rushed to hug their dad. His plan had worked and they had all won together. It felt like a family triumph.
New Job
Over the next few weeks, Cory worked hard to try and find a new position. Heather spent hours scrolling job postings, helping her dad to get back on his feet, but it was slim pickings.
He was just starting to give up hope again when one evening there was a knock at the door. It was Bill and he had come with an unexpected offer. He wanted Cory to come on board at Whitman Transportation as the operations manager. It was a better-paid position than Cory had ever held before.
Fresh Start
Cory started working for Bill the very next day. It was going to take some getting used to, but Bill was on his way to becoming a better man and Cory was glad for the security it would mean for the children.
He hoped that Heather would feel like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders so she could start enjoying being a teen again. It felt like a fresh start for all of them.
Looking to the Future
When Cory Summer woke up one morning to find a semi-truck blocking his driveway, he didn’t know it was going to be the beginning of an ordeal that would almost push him to the brink. Determined to fight for his family, Cory decided to do whatever he could to put things right and ended up helping his whole community.
We hope that the Summer family is thriving and that Cory is enjoying his new role at Whitman Transportation. We’re sure that Bill is realizing that being kind and considerate is worthwhile and continuing to make positive changes in his life.
