Postscript:

My entry to this competition was met with much disappointment because the "ending" to my story was not very satisfying. I received many disgruntled replies for that reason, and justifiably so.

Thank you to all who commented, and please accept my sincere apologies in the form of an actual remedy.

For anyone who may still care, I have repaired the situation by finishing the story in two more installments, both of which are now on-line. Here are links to all three installments of a complete story:

I hope all who were left without closure will now feel that this has been brought to a satisfactory conclusion.

😄😇😄