Hero Interview from Trouble in Store by Carol Cox

» Posted on Jun 26, 2013 in Blog | Comments Off on Hero Interview from Trouble in Store by Carol Cox

This week I’m hosting  Carol Cox with Trouble in Store (US only) and Margaret Daley with Guarding the Witness. If you want to enter the drawings for the books, please leave a comment on one of the post during the week with your email address. I will not enter you without an email address (my way to contact you if you win). If you don’t want to leave an email address, another way you can enter is to email me at margaretdaley@gmail.com. The drawings end Sunday (June 30th) evening.

9780764209567_p0_v2_s260x420Interview with the hero from Trouble in Store by Carol Cox:

1. Caleb Nelson, tell me the most interesting thing about you.

There really isn’t much to tell. I was a farmer back in Missouri. But after my wife died, I needed to make a fresh start, so I came to Arizona to build a new life for me and my son. Now I own the Ross-Nelson Mercantile in Cedar Ridge.

2.  What do you do for fun?

Running a mercantile doesn’t leave much time for fun. It seems like I spend nearly every waking moment working in the store . . . or at least thinking about it.

 Back in Missouri, I used to go fishing on the river. I’d love to take Levi out to the creek and spend time teaching him to fish. A boy of six should learn things like that, but I don’t know when I’ll ever find the time.

3.  What do you put off doing because you dread it?

I probably don’t discipline Levi as much as I should, but it’s tough on a boy to grow up with only a father. I don’t want to make things too hard on him.

4.  What are you afraid of most in life?

Failing as a father. Or failing with the mercantile—it’s really the same thing. Making a go of this store means everything to me. It isn’t easy to raise a boy alone, but this is a way I can insure my son has a solid future. Not being able to do that would be the worst thing I can think of.

5.  What do you want out of life?

To be a man my son can look up to—someone he can respect.

6.  What is the most important thing to you?

Being a good father and learning how to fit into this community.

7.  Do you read books? If so, what is your favorite type of book?

I don’t have time for reading, except for my Bible and the books I read to Levi. I’m trying to help him learn his letters, and he’s doing a fine job of that.

8.  If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I wish I could let myself relax more. I’d like to be able to enjoy the friendships I’m making here in Cedar Ridge and take time to explore more of the area. There’s some beautiful country around here.

9.  Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?

Not unless you count the frog my son brought home one day. Levi named him Freddie, and having him to play with seems to make the boy happy. I know he’s lonely without a mother to fuss over him, and it’s hard on a youngster to be cooped up in the mercantile all day long. Freddie gives him company, but that frog has caused some problems as well. He’s gotten loose several times and scared some of my female customers. I may have to talk Levi into giving him up, but I’m not sure how I’m going to do that.

10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?

I’d go back to the days when my wife was alive. We were a real family then, the two of us and Levi . . . and looking forward to a new baby on the way. Life seemed just about perfect back then. It’s hard to imagine ever being that happy again.