Mom and Pop Hardware: A Kansas Girl's Quirky Childhood at My Folks' Competing Stores

In the summers and after school, 10-year-old Bethy, a/k/a "Miss Nuisance," sold nuts and bolts at her dad's bustling hardware store on Main Street in rural Kansas. That is, unless she was selling nuts and bolts at the hardware store right next door. It was owned by her dad's biggest competitor Bethy's mother.

Located in McPherson, Kansas, the side-by-side hardware stores set the stage for an unconventional childhood. Bethy's dad, Gene, could talk the hide off a cow and fix just about anything. Her mom, Betty, had a quiet strength that belied a tragic past.

The cast of characters include Bethy's mischievous brother Ricky, her offbeat Aunt Tootsie, and her self-appointed wingman Authur. Even Doorknob the cat makes an appearance or two.

In this coming-of-age story, Bethy encounters personal challenges that test her character, her family, and her faith. Meanwhile, both hardware stores face economic challenges that make their long-term survival a longshot.

Through it all, the good people of McPherson demonstrate their support and resilience, but Bethy discovers that some outcomes are beyond her control.