Yard Work
A few days ago a young man knocked on my door asking if we'd like to have our lawn mowed for $20. Maybe it was $25. I can't remember but I need to figure that out soon because I'll have to run to the ATM if it's $25. He's here now getting a late start on his end of the bargain.
Every 20 seconds or so his lawn mower shuts off and he has to restart it. After it shut off a bit ago I heard what I thought was sobbing. I thought the young man was crying because his lawn mower wouldn't keep running. He started the mower again and when it shut off I heard the sobbing a second time.
When I looked out my window I saw a large man and a young woman standing on the sidewalk in front of my house. The large man, perhaps in his early 20s, was pointing into the yard and laughing the laugh of someone who was undeniably mentally disabled. It was his laugh which I had mistaken for sobbing. The young woman was smiling up at him.
***
I paid the young man his $25, three of it in quarters. We made no mention of the laughing man nor who I assumed was his sister.
Every 20 seconds or so his lawn mower shuts off and he has to restart it. After it shut off a bit ago I heard what I thought was sobbing. I thought the young man was crying because his lawn mower wouldn't keep running. He started the mower again and when it shut off I heard the sobbing a second time.
When I looked out my window I saw a large man and a young woman standing on the sidewalk in front of my house. The large man, perhaps in his early 20s, was pointing into the yard and laughing the laugh of someone who was undeniably mentally disabled. It was his laugh which I had mistaken for sobbing. The young woman was smiling up at him.
***
I paid the young man his $25, three of it in quarters. We made no mention of the laughing man nor who I assumed was his sister.