Ergo, the Ogre

Welcome to the daily Three Things Challenge.
Use your imagination and creativity using one, two or all three words that may or may not be related. There are no restrictions regarding length, style, or genre, though please keep it family friendly.

Tag your responses with 3TC, #threethingschallenge or TTC, and you can add Di’s logo if you wish.

Looking forward to reading your responses.

Your three words today are:
ELITE
ELUSIVE
ENDURE

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Dottie and Eddie endured years of scrimping, saving, putting in overtime and sometimes even working two jobs, to escape the poverty they were both born into. And now, it finally paid off: Today they were moving away from their crime-ridden, gang-infested ‘hood and into one of Chicago’s elite northern suburbs.

There wasn’t much to move since their furniture was so old; it was used when they got it. The appliances stayed at the apartment so there was no need for a moving van. They simply loaded their stuff into the old station wagon and left.

Pulling up to the guard station in their new gated community was embarrassing, especially for Dottie. Cars were lining up behind them and some drivers were getting impatient. The guard didn’t believe that they actually belonged there and made a couple of phone calls while eyeing Dottie and Eddie with suspicion.

“I feel like one of the Beverly Hillbillies,” Dottie said. “At least we don’t have a mattress tied to the roof.”

“I get to be Jethro!” Eddie said in a loud voice. “You can either be Granny or Ellie Mae. What’s it gonna be?”

“Thank God for your sense of humor.” Dottie laughed. “Ellie Mae, all the way!”

The guard stuck his head out the window. “Welcome to your new home,” he said, pokerfaced. “Hope you’ll be happy here.” The gate opened and they drove through.

“This place is gorgeous,” Dottie marveled, as they drove through the neighborhood. “I can’t believe we live here!”

“I’m gonna park this thing in the garage,” Eddie sighed. “Look how people are staring.”

“That’s just because we’re new. Look! There’s our house!” Dottie pointed excitedly.

“Yep!” Eddie swung into the driveway and pushed the button to open the garage door. “We’re home, baby!”

Dottie giggled. “Can you believe it?”

“Actually, yes.” Eddie said, “After all that hard work, definitely, yes.”

As soon as they unloaded the car, the truck carrying their new furniture pulled up.

“It’s here, it’s here!” Dottie squealed.

They spent the rest of the day arranging furniture and getting things organized. For dinner, they had pizza delivered and Eddie ran out to get a couple six packs of Michelob and a bottle of Chianti for Dottie.

“I wonder who our neighbors are.” Dottie said. “Have you seen anybody?”

“Nope.” Eddie took a long swig of beer. “Maybe they went away for the weekend.”

“Everybody?”

Eddie shrugged. “I dunno …”

That night, they turned in early. Aside from being exhausted, they planned to attend church the next morning.

Around 3:00am Dottie and Eddie were awakened by approaching sirens. Eddie got up to see what was going on. He saw it when he peeked out the window: a cross of flames.

Sonovobitch.

Dottie came up behind him, still tying her bathrobe. “What’s going on?”

She looked outside in time to see the fire truck pull up, followed by a couple of police cars.

Tears filled her eyes, and she collapsed into Eddie’s arms. “Oh, Eddie, why? Why do they do this? This is our home and they’re ruining it!”

Eddie held her close and let her cry. “It’ll be okay, you’ll see. Everything will be okay. It’s just a fluke.”

Eddie didn’t believe a word of it.