"Lines in Spring"

A man repairs a friendship.

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“Lines in Spring”

William Auten

Copyright William Auten

williamauten.com

I kill the leaf blower, pop out my earplugs, and ask Rahul to stick our HOW DID WE DO? survey by the doorknob while I rake remaining leaves in the backyard and stuff them in the bags by the fence. He says he will and secures our tree-trimmers and gas tanks inside the trailer. The school bus leaving the neighborhood about blends in with the sunset and patch of yellow-orange trees. Only one house on this block has Halloween decorations left up. I zip up my jacket and check my watch. It looks later than what it is. Rahul fires up his mower and drives it into the trailer. He thumbs-up to me his gear is good to go. He looks at his mower like he’s saying goodbye.

I dig the blunt end of my rake into the gutter closest to the basement and scoop out wet, clumpy gunk. Mr. Vircosey has always said the gutter gets clogged pretty good this time of year. He doesn’t want any water down there where his wife sews on her machine. He’s still certain she’s alive. When she was, Rahul learned the hard way not to weed-whack too close to her state fair–winning roses. He lopped off a head, and she was ready to lop off his. He was new, and the old customer-survey system was still in place for the clients like Mr. Vircosey who stuck with me. Tracy and me set up the old system, but Rahul improved it. Email and an online survey. After trial runs, we nixed the comments section because people filled it with Can you take care of our dog while you’re there? or My insulin package comes every Wednesday – thanks for signing for it! or Even when we’re not home, please don’t block our driveway. Rahul suggested including our holiday-decorating services and offering a coupon clients could hold onto when lawn service would pick up in the spring. The new survey is branded with the logo he tweaked. I’m thankful to send out anything—electronic or snail mail, new system or old—to anyone still needing me.