From Nothing to Something

From Nothing to Something

a memoir of Allen Davis

        It’s mid-summer in Ft. Myers, Florida. School’s out as well as the sun and the days are longer than you want them to be. It’s 1978, Allen Davis is 17 living under the realm of his parents. Allen is out under his car like usual with various wrenches in hand and a thin coating of grease and dirt over his face. He grabs his worn, oily, red towel and wipes the bead of sweat from his forehead as he exhales a large sigh. He slides out from under the car, and takes a swig of his melted ice water.

        Allen came from a low income family. His parents were hard workers with limited opportunities. While he never received much guidance from them, he took what examples he could. His mother worked to sell goods at the flea market each day while his father worked to obtain those goods by farming. He grew up largely on his own and as result matured a lot earlier than most teenagers his age. He worked a job at the local grocery store, from the time he turned 16 until about 17. Allen wanted more than his parents had or could give him; he wanted a better, more secure life.

        Allen is 20 years old now, he is working as a technician at Westside Motors. The pay is mediocre, the job itself is tolerable; he’s moved away from his parents into a small, flimsy two bedroom apartment. Life is a lot better out his own, but he’s already wanting something new. He’s been pondering a new idea lately that would change everything. It would pay better, allow him to live his dream of traveling the world, and most importantly help him take a step towards a more successful future. Allen goes to the recruitment office and enlists in the United States Marine Corps.

        He claimed joining the military was one of the best decisions he has ever made. It helped to push him  out of the rut he’d been stuck in all of his life. He worked as part of the Avionics crew and was an expert marksman with the M16 rifle. He also was a veteran in the Pursian-Gulf War. He enjoyed his four years of service there and benefitted from it very much. He gained self-discipline, a solid work ethic, and quite a large savings in his bank account.

        It’s now 1995 and Allen is starting to settle down. He’s graduated from the from the Marines with an honorable discharge and doors are finally starting to open. He’s also met a special girl, Joan Davis, she’s a nurse from North Fort Myers, Florida. Things haved moved rather quickly and they’re already planning their move to Little Rock, Arkansas. This is Joan’s hometown, she’s been all over the US and realized that’s where she most wants to be. Allen has gotten a job offer as a Maintinance supervisor for the USPS in Little Rock. They both reconsider and decide to make the move.