She was given five days by Canada Post Corporation to effect the change. As though it could be easily done. If she had the disposable wherewithal to hire someone at short notice, if she could simply go out into the marketplace and purchase a replacement and will it into place. If she weren't single, and could depend on a man around the house to do those things life would be so much simpler, one supposes.

And then again, perhaps not. Not all men are capable, of doing such things, after all. But presumably, a double salary would make it more feasible to run a household and attend to these little irritants that crop up. As matters stand at the moment she hasn't even one dependable salary, still awaiting the appearance of a contract that will help her meet her financial obligations.

When she'd bought the house the mailbox was there and had been in use for many years. The house itself dates to 1864. Evidently an inspection by the Post Office over the last little while found it wanting, not meeting the specifications of the Corporation, and she was warned that if it weren't replaced she would no longer be receiving mail delivery.

It was her father, as usual, who took charge. He awaited her invitation to step in, so as not to make her feel that she was not capable of making decisions on her own. She had obviously mooted over in her mind how she would proceed and had come to the conclusion that she didn't know how, adequately, asking finally for his help.

He acquired the constituent materials, from a concrete deck block to a two-by-four post, tee bar, the necessary hardware and cement, and proceeded to construct the required mailbox support. It took awhile, several hours' work on two succeeding days, then the delivery and the installation on Day 3.

Done.