Blog Stop: Getting Roosevelt By Yvonne Mikell

Roosevelt, an old Victorian nestled on the border of upscale Chestnut Hill and middle-class
Mt. Airy, is the obsession of two people, Elizabeth Samms and Gordon Roosevelt. Gordon is a
realtor who likes to flip properties. Handy man Donovan Smith helps his employer eliminate
prospective buyers who do not live up to his standards. Protagonist Elizabeth Samms and her
autistic son love the house and are willing to fight for it. But a stranger appears with claims to
the house, will Gordon relinquish control?

 Excerpt:


“Hold it, you can pull over alongside of that house,” she said, pointing at the house on the
corner.
He did as requested and shut the meter off, “That’ll be $55.”
She handed him a hundred dollar bill.
“I don’t have any change,” he said.
“Well you can keep it, you get a $45 tip for being so courteous,” she said.
“Thank you,” he said.
He got out and walked around the car. He opened the door and helped her get out.
“I’ll walk you to the door,” he said.
“That’s quite alright I can make it by myself. Wait a minute, this is not my house!” she
snapped.
The cab driver sucked his teeth, “Of course it isn’t! I’ve been trying to tell you this is not
the 7400 block of Germantown Avenue. You belong in Cathedral Village don’t you?”
“No I don’t!” she snapped, “Who told you I belonged there?”
“Why else would an 80 year old lady be out this time of the night? I don’t blame you.
When I get your age and my family stick me in one of those places, I’d probably run
away too. If this is not your home where do you want me to take you?”
“No where! Be gone!” she snapped.
“I can’t, I can’t leave you here all by yourself,” he said.
“If you don’t leave, I’ll scream Simon Lucas, and when the cops get here I’ll tell them
you robbed me,” she said.
“Of all the…good riddance!”