After AC Dropped One Degree, Family Forced Cheap House Sale

1: 1

Every summer, my husband kept the AC locked at exactly 79F.

For years I assumed he was just looking out for the family's health.

Then one day I bumped it down a single degree, and the second Glen Dickerson saw it, he lost it right there in the living room.

How many times have I told you not to touch that thermostat? Are you trying to get us all killed?

I froze. One degree. How could that possibly matter this much?

I couldn't make sense of it, but I swallowed it and apologized anyway.

Instead of calming down, he dug the house deed out of the safe and slammed it on the table.

"We can't live here anymore. We're selling this place. Today."

That knocked the air out of me. I threw myself in his way.

"Have you lost your mind? Do you know what we went through to get this place? It's in the best school district in town!"

"Katherine starts high school next year, and you want to sell now?"

As I said it, our daughter came running at the sound of our voices.

I thought she'd stop him on the spot.

But she only glanced at the number on the thermostat panel.

The next thing out of her mouth made my jaw drop.

......

"Mom, if we don't sell this house, I'm dropping out. Right now."

I stood there staring at how serious she looked.

She'd always been the good one. She had never once raised her voice at me.

Back when she learned we'd emptied out six family members' savings to buy this place,

her eyes had gone red with guilt on the spot,

and she'd sworn she'd study hard and pay us back for everything.

And now, because I nudged the AC down one degree,

she was threatening to drop out to make me sell?

"Katherine Dickerson, do you have any idea what you're saying?"

I jabbed a finger at her, beside myself.

"Have you forgotten how much this house means to you?"

"And now you want to sell it over one degree on the thermostat?"

"Have the two of you gone completely insane?"

I thought my anger might snap her out of it.

Instead she jerked back two steps, glaring at me like she hated me.

"You're the one who's insane!"

She shrieked it, pointing at the thermostat on the wall,

"Why did you touch the AC? Why?"

"Don't you get it? One degree lower and this whole house is ruined!"

My head was buzzing.

It was 79 down to 77. That was all.

How did that ruin the house?

I reached out to feel her forehead,

to check if she was running a fever and out of her head.

She slapped my hand away.

"Don't touch me! Just sell the house, now!"

"Or we're all finished!"

I stood there, completely rooted.

Right then, a huge crash came from the bedroom.

I came back to myself and turned to look, and my heart clenched hard.

At some point Glen had dragged out two oversized suitcases,

and he was cramming things into them like a madman.

My clothes, Katherine's schoolbooks, even the cup off the table,

anything he could carry, he was sweeping into the cases in a blind rush.

"Glen, what are you doing?"

I ran over and grabbed his arm with everything I had.

He just shoved me straight down onto the couch.

"Doing? We can still get out, so we're moving out. Now."

His eyes were bloodshot, his forehead slick with cold sweat, his hands moving faster and faster.

"The movers are almost here. I've already got the agent lined up."

"This house goes on the market and sells today!"

As he spoke, he didn't even bother pulling the clothes off the hangers,

he balled up clothes and hangers together and rammed them in.

"Glen, you tell me exactly what is going on!"

"It's one degree on the AC, that's all!"

"What is the difference between 77 and 79?"

I scrambled up like a woman gone mad and threw my arms around the suitcase.

"This house is everything this family worked for!"

"My name is on that deed. I don't sign, you don't sell. Ever."

At that, Glen's head snapped up.

"You've got the nerve to bring up the AC?"

He erupted, kicking over the coffee table beside him.

The shatter of glass tore through the room.

"I warned you a thousand times!"

"Never, ever touch that thermostat!"

"You let everything I said go in one ear and out the other, didn't you?"

"Well, now the house is completely wrecked. Happy?"

He jabbed a finger in my face and roared,

"Pack your things. Now!"

"Even if we have to slash the price in half, it sells today!"

"You don't sign, I file for divorce!"

I stood in the wreckage, shaking all over.

Insane.

Both of them, father and daughter, had gone insane.

An affair, bankruptcy, none of that would blow up into anything like this.

All over the AC being one degree lower,

the home I'd poured more than a decade into was falling apart just like that?

"Glen, is there another woman? Are you picking a fight to force me into selling and divorcing you?"

The tears spilled over before I could stop them.

Glen clearly stalled at that.

But just as he opened his mouth to speak,

something started pounding on the front door.

2: 2

"What's all this yelling on a weekend!"

"Some of us are trying to rest!"

Glen snapped out of it and yanked the front door open.

The moment I saw it was Madge Lambert from across the hall, I grabbed on like she was a lifeline.

Madge was the community mediator, always the warmest, most helpful person around, and she and I had always gotten along.

I shoved past Glen and threw myself at her, crying, clutching her arm.

"Madge, please, talk some sense into Glen! He's lost his mind, he wants to sell the house!"

"Sell the house?" Madge's voice went up, and she looked at Glen, disapproval all over her face.

"Glen, honey, you're acting on impulse!"

"The market's the way it is now, you'd lose a couple hundred grand at least!"

"No matter how bad a fight gets between a husband and wife, you don't go dragging the house into it!"

I nodded and nodded. "Exactly, Madge, he's being completely unreasonable.

"Just because I accidentally turned the AC down one degree,

"he starts smashing things and talking divorce. If that's not picking a fight on purpose, what is it!"

By the time I finished, tears were just pouring down my face.

But Madge suddenly gasped.

"What did you say?

"You... you turned the AC down one degree?"

I nodded, not understanding. "Yeah, just one degree lower..."

Before I'd even finished, Madge jerked back two steps like she'd touched a live wire,

and grabbed Glen's arm.

"Glen! What are you still dawdling for!

"Hurry! Call the agent right now and sell the house!"

I was completely dumbstruck.

Madge flung me off and rattled off advice at Glen like machine-gun fire.

"Listen to me, forget about the market!

"Just drop the price three, four hundred grand and list it! Cash buyers only, the faster the better!

"Don't bother packing! Grab your ID and your bank cards and go!

"If the agent's too slow, go straight to one of those places that buys mortgaged homes for quick cash!

"So you take a loss, so what, staying alive is what matters!"

Then she wheeled around and shouted at my daughter.

"Katherine, hurry!

"Forget your clothes, grab your backpack and go with your dad!"

I just stood there, staring at this absurd scene playing out in front of me.

Why? Why on earth was this happening?

One second ago Madge was telling us not to sell,

and now, hearing the AC had gone down a degree, she was more frantic than Glen?

Coaching him to dump it hundreds of thousands under value?

I forced myself to stay calm and my mind raced.

Then a truly terrifying thought surfaced.

Borrowed money. Gambling debt.

Glen had to owe loan sharks something he couldn't pay off!

He didn't dare tell me, so he was blowing up over the AC being one degree lower, making a mountain out of nothing, to force me to sell the house and clear the debt!

He'd obviously scared our daughter into it too,

so afraid the loan sharks would come pounding on the door that she was saying she'd drop out of school if we didn't sell!

And Madge... she'd clearly been bought off by Glen long ago,

which was why she'd come running over to put on this little double act, so I'd hurry up and sign off on the sale!

Short of that, I couldn't come up with a single other reason three normal people would collectively lose their minds over a thermostat setting!

"Enough!"

I snatched the suitcase out of Glen's hand and slammed it down on the floor.

"Glen, do you really think I'm an idiot!"

I pointed at him, shaking all over with rage.

"How much money do you owe out there?

"Enough that you'd bribe a neighbor and scare our daughter,

"and cook up a ridiculous reason like this to force me to sell the house!"

Glen froze. "Owe money? What are you talking about!"

"I'm talking nonsense?"

I gave a cold laugh.

"The AC goes down one degree and the house is ruined?

"Do you even believe that garbage yourself!?

"For a quick payout, you've got other people saying 'drop the price a few hundred grand' for you.

"What a waste, you should've been an actor!

"Glen, let me tell you, half this house is mine,

"and if you think you're using it to plug your hole, dream on!"

Madge slapped her thigh, beside herself. "Oh Deborah, you're a fool!

"Nobody's after your little bit of money, this isn't about money!"

"Save it, you and your crocodile tears!"

I shot her a hard glare and turned back to Glen.

"You think hiring people to put on a show is going to force me to cave?

"Fine, if you're going to take this all the way,

"then let's have the whole family come judge who's right!"

With that, I pulled out my phone and dialed my in-laws without hesitation.

Glen had always been terrified of his parents.

If the two of them found out he'd racked up debt and was forcing me to sell the school-district home,

they'd break his legs!

Glen's face changed the instant he saw me on the phone, and he lunged to grab it.

"What are you calling them for!"

I clung to the phone for dear life and shoved him off with everything I had.

The guiltier he acted, the surer I was of what I'd guessed.

My mother-in-law's voice came through the line soon enough. "Hello? Deborah,

"what's got you calling your mom on a weekend?"

The moment I heard Eva's voice, all the hurt I'd been holding in came flooding out.

"Mom! You have to come deal with Glen!

"He's run up who knows how much debt out there,

"and now he's forcing me to sell Katherine's school-district home! It's sell or divorce!"

3: 3

Less than ten minutes after the call ended, the old couple came rushing in.

Glen! You worthless piece of trash!"

The second Eva Dickerson was through the door, she flew at Glen and slapped him hard across the face.

What kind of mess have you gotten into out there?"

You'd hand over the house to cover a debt, and push Deborah to divorce you?"

Jackson Dickerson's face was dark too. This school-district home is for Katherine's schooling, and nothing else!"

It's this whole family's lifeline! You lay one finger on it and see what happens!"

Glen didn't dodge or flinch. He took the blows, one after another.

Dad! Mom! I don't owe any money!"

But this house has to be sold!"

That's a load of crap!"

Eva was shaking with rage. She snatched the broom by the door and started swinging it at Glen.

But right then, our daughter, who'd been huddled in the corner the whole time, suddenly burst into loud sobs:

Grandma, don't hit my dad!"

It's not his fault, it's my mom, she set the AC down by one degree!"

The words landed, and my heart shot up into my throat all over again.

I couldn't be sure my in-laws wouldn't turn on me the same way the others had.

Eva froze with her hand still in the air, then turned to look at Katherine.

What did you say? The AC?"

Her brows knit together, her whole face baffled:

So what if the AC's a degree lower?"

Are we so short on money we can't cover a few dollars of electricity? Is that any reason for your dad to smash up the house and sell it?"

Hearing that, I finally let out a breath,

and the tears came pouring out like a dam had broken.

Thank God!

At least Eva still had her head on straight.

I was trembling all over with how wronged I felt, gripping Eva's hand tight:

Mom, you think it's insane too, right!"

Just because I turned the AC down one degree,"

the two of them went crazy and decided to sell the house."

Eva patted the back of my hand. This is unbelievable,"

Deborah, don't be scared. Your mom's here today. Let's see who dares"

Wait!"

Jackson, who hadn't said a word this whole time, suddenly cut Eva off with a shout.

He jerked his hand up, pointing at the AC panel on the wall.

Woman! One degree lower!"

Did you forget? The AC's been set one degree lower!"

What's gotten into you, hollering like that"

Eva flapped her hand at him, annoyed. But before she could finish,

she followed Jackson's line of sight and got a clear look at the AC panel.

The next second, a violent shudder went through her whole body.

One degree lower... it really is one degree lower..."

She sucked in a sharp breath and shoved me straight to the floor.

You little menace! Who told you to go and touch the AC!"

It hit me like a bolt out of the sky. I went rigid on the spot.

Jackson threw down the broom and snatched the suitcase out of Glen's hands:

What are you standing there for! Forget packing clothes, leave it!"

Glen, you got the IDs? Move, now!"

Eva, in a blind panic, grabbed Katherine by the hand:

Go, go, go! Get out of here!"

We can't keep this house, no matter what!"

I completely fell apart, scrambling up on unsteady legs,

Dad, Mom! What in the world has gotten into you all!"

We bled ourselves dry to buy this house!"

Back then, to scrape together the down payment, you two even handed over your retirement savings!"

And now, just because some stupid AC is set a degree lower,"

you're throwing it away, just like that? On what grounds!"

Jackson shoved me aside in a furious frenzy.

You want to get yourself killed, fine, but don't drag the whole family down with you!"

Eva was even more frantic. She bolted straight out the door: Hurry, hurry! Before Prime Living Realty closes for the day,"

we're going over there right now to sell the house!"

The moment I heard that,

a flash of white light went off in my head.

Prime Living Realty!

Wasn't Glen's sister, Stacy Dickerson, working at that exact real estate agency?!

No wonder Glen was so dead set on selling the house cheap.

No wonder the in-laws were running a good-cop, bad-cop routine.

It had to be my sister-in-law, brainwashing the whole family to hit her sales quota!

The thought hit me, and I threw my arms wide across the doorway.

Nobody's leaving!"

I pointed at Glen through gritted teeth,

Stacy put you all up to this, didn't she?"

She'll scam her own brother out of his house just to make money,"

and you'd cook up this kind of nonsense just to help her!"

Glen was stunned, then shouted in a panic: What are you talking about!"

This has nothing to do with Stacy. I'm trying to save this family's lives!"

Save lives? Fine, then let the cops come take a look,"

and see whether it's saving lives or fraud!"

With that, I didn't hesitate. I pulled out my phone and dialed 911.

Glen saw it and lunged at me like a madman: Deborah, what are you doing! Don't call the police!"

I shouted into the phone the moment it connected:

Hello, Officer, I want to report a crime!"

My sister-in-law, to earn her agent's commission,"

brainwashed my whole family into forcing me to dump my school-district home for next to nothing. I want to press fraud charges against her!"

4: 4

A few minutes later, two officers came rushing onto the scene.

I went straight at them with my complaint.

"Officers, my sister-in-law's name is Stacy Dickerson."

"She works at that real-estate office on the corner!"

"Please, look into this. She brainwashed my whole family so she could make a sale!"

The lead officer frowned and got on his radio to verify with the station.

Glen had gone pale, and my in-laws were beside themselves, frantic as ants on a hot pan.

"Officer, my sister isn't running any scam!"

Glen argued, sweat pouring down his face.

"This is a family matter!"

A moment later the officer lowered his radio and looked at me with an odd expression.

"Ms. Cobb, we just checked."

"Stacy Dickerson left Prime Living Realty a month ago and moved out of state."

"She hasn't been in contact with the family this whole month."

The words hit me like a bolt out of a clear sky, and I stood there nailed to the spot.

Left her job a month ago?

Living out of state?

I was completely lost, my mind blank.

If it wasn't my sister-in-law behind this, then what was it?

While my thoughts were still a tangled mess, the door was shoved open.

A man in a suit came charging in, out of breath.

"Glen! I've got the buyer's contract!"

"Full payment, all at once, but they're driving the price way down. Hundreds of thousands under market!"

"You sure you want to sell? Sure you want to sign right now?"

"Sign it! I'll sign right now!"

Glen snatched the pen out of the agent's hand.

He didn't so much as glance at the contract, just flipped to the last page and moved to sign.

"You can't sign that!"

I lost it completely and threw myself at him, grabbing his wrist.

"Glen, are you insane!"

"You'd sell off my house for nothing, right in front of the officers!"

"Get off me!"

His eyes were bloodshot. He drove his elbow hard into my shoulder.

I cried out in pain, lost my balance, and hit the floor hard.

As it happened, I'd fallen right underneath the air conditioner.

I struggled to push myself up.

But the moment I lifted my head, my eyes landed, by chance, on the air conditioner's vent.

One look.

Every drop of blood in me froze.

In a flash, a hundred little details snapped together in my mind.

I finally understood.

Understood why they'd do anything to sell the house for a pittance.

Understood why they were so desperate to run for their lives!

I scrambled up off the floor and lurched forward.

I grabbed the lead officer's arm.

I leaned close to his ear and said one sentence, fast, in a voice only the two of us could hear.

The officer's body jerked.

His head snapped around, his sharp eyes locking onto that floor-standing air conditioner.

A few seconds later, his whole expression changed.

He lunged forward and shoved Glen away from the contract.

"Don't sign it!"

The next second, he drew the sidearm at his hip.

The black muzzle swung to cover the few people in the room.

His roar tore through the whole living room.

"Nobody move! Hands on your heads, down on the ground, now!"