Harker glared out his window at the fallen tree. It hadn’t moved for the past twenty years, then last night it had just decided to keel over. Now he had to clean it up.
Harker tugged a boot on with one hand on the kitchen chair.
“Stupid goddamn tree,” he muttered. “Why you were planted is beyond me.”
It took him thirty minutes to get his boots on. Harker threw on his fleece, than stared out the window again. He checked the cell phone that cost him an arm and a leg, than sighed and tossed it at his recliner.
Harker took with him a shovel and a wheelbarrel. He smeared the humid moisture from his forehead and groaned. He nudged the dead tree with his shovel.
“How the hell am I supposed to get rid of you… stupid goddamn tree.”
Harker turned around and headed for his backyard.
“Mister!” called someone.
Harker turned around. It was a little boy with a sharp smile and a stick of chalk.
“What?” Harker said.
“Want some help moving your tree?”
“From who?” Harker stuck his hand above his eyes like it were a visor, then squinted as he searched the street from one side to the other.
“Well… Me.”
Harker shook his head and turned around. He carried on toward his backyard muttering to himself. The child had no business trying to look courteous here. This tree was a serious problem, and the last thing Harker needed was some dumb kid making the job even more difficult.
That was how Dotty used to be. She’d always try to help Harker with his do-it-yourself projects, but would only ruin them. If he was toying with his engine, she’d beg him for a peek. The second he let her have a look, she’d break something. He’d turn, find a wrench in her hand, then ask her what the hell she was doing. And for some dumb reason her response would always trick him into laughing and forget all about the trouble she always caused.
But that was Dotty, and Dotty was dead. Now Harker was blessed enough to take on his do-it-yourself projects with nobody to hold him up. That was the biggest difference he’d noticed with his age. Ever since the kids moved out of state and Dotty passed away, Harker finally had time to do the things he wanted to do, uninterrupted.
Harker realized he’d been standing in his backyard with his hands on his hips for an easy five minutes.
“What the hell am I looking for?” He said to himself.
Harker spotted a saw. “You,” he said as he pointed at it. Harker strode over, picked it up in practically no time at all, then started on his return trip to the front yard.
When he reached it, he couldn’t believe his eyes.
“You’ve got to be goddamn kidding me,” he said.
…To be continued
- – Thomas M. Watt
Thomas M. Watt 