Tall Weeds p Vishnupriya C

Damn!

These tall weeds in the backyard were such an eyesore! As if trying to match her height and say, ‘We’re as strong as you.’

It would be so hard to pull them out now. There was already so much extra cleaning and disinfecting now during these pandemic days and to add to the existing woes, there were these weeds to clear. No dearth of work. Always something to break your back. But the question is: Why her always? Why not him?

2

She looked up to see who was rattling the white fence.

Ali was smiling his toothless smile she knew through his mask and was looking at her. She waved and he joined her. He started pulling the weeds.

He was a toddler when they had moved in next door a few years back. Now, he is a grown seventh grader, but was such a child at heart, would always be the toddler to her. Any kid with a special need always carried that little child inside.

Ali kept smiling, tugging, and humming.

In all these years, they spoke very little, as if Ali knew she understood him without words. Like now, she came with a bag of Sun chips and orange soda. How did she guess that was exactly what he was craving right then? His mom did not. But she always knew. He beamed when she came closer and decided to hug her when the job was done. He would clean the patio for her so she could enjoy a drink with her husband.

Perhaps Mr. Bandy would call him too to have a game of chess once the backyard was clean enough to have a barbecue. He loved the way Mr. Bandy grilled burgers. Reminded him of his dad. Sad that Mom would not mention him ever in the house.

3

Ali just did not get it. He never got it. Why was his mom yelling again? Was it because of what she pushed into her thin thighs every now and then? Or was it because she thought Mrs. Bandy was a witch trying to snatch him away from her? This happened every time he went over to hear Mrs. Bandy read Harry Potter to him. If his mom read to him instead of throwing things all over the house in one of her moods, he would have liked her reading. Like now she gave him one hard look and crashed onto the centerpiece, shattering the glass into a million pieces, cutting her left arm. He went to fetch the dustpan and brush to tidy up. He always liked things tidy like inside Mrs. Bandy’s house, not strewn around. It frightened him.

4

She felt it was a treat looking at the patio. So clean thanks to Ali. Meticulous to a fault. Already for a barbecue. Maybe tomorrow...

He was looking at the patio with such joy that she knew he was planning a barbecue too.

Ali would be their guest of honor. Masked and six feet away, they did not need anyone else to make it happen. He was so special.

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