# “The Mom Next Door” by Tad Overdon
**CHAPTER TWO**
“Hey, be careful with that, Champ!” Melissa Jacobs called out to her 18-year-old son. “It’s Grandma Katie’s china!”
Ben Jacobs paused in the middle of the wide front lawn of the big house with the “SOLD” sign still planted at its curb, nonchalantly balancing two stacked cardboard boxes. “Mom, we eat outta microwave trays.”
“It’s an heirloom,” Melissa chided, striding down from the front steps where she’d been struggling to unlock the door with a newly-cut key. She took one of the boxes from Ben and set it on the grass. “It’s precious,” She reached up to tousle his dark curls. “Like you.”
“Ah, Mom!” Ben ducked his head and looked past her. “I can get it.” He grabbed the key from her hand and bounded away up the long front walk. Naturally, the door popped open for him on the first try and he quickly disappeared into their new home.