Madison and Cathedral 2009-10

Page 49

couldn't even let nature take its course naturally. Then she went across the street and started to pick the leaves out from under the windshield wipers of her neighbors' cars. This made Old Man Jen- kins cackle out loud. Weeks passed and every Sunday the crazy neighbor repeated her routine just like the last 25 years. One Sunday, something momentarily interrupted her schedule. Just as Jenkins plopped down in his chair with his breakfast, his neighbor's children pulled into her driveway. Both she and her husband ran out (on the sidewalk) to greet the kids. The father took the homemade cake from his daughter's hands and they all laughed and talked as they made their way up into the house. Jenkins smiled to himself and started to think about his own kids‌ But five minutes later his smile was wiped from his face. His cooky neighbor stalked out of the house and started to trim the already perfect bushes. Something ticked inside of Jenkins head. He rose from the swaying chair, stepped out into the sunshine, and headed over right onto his neighbor's lawn. "Hey don't step-" "Hello, I just want to ask you, what are you doing?" "Oh, um, do you like this?" She held up the shiny trimmer. "It's the newest model of trimming supplies. I just got it yesterday." She smiled. "Now please get off the lawn." "No. What are you doing?" Jenkins snapped. The elderly lady's face was in shock and she couldn't say anything. "I just noticed that your children are here, from out of state. What are you doing messing with your stupid lawn? Is your precious Better Homes & Gardens museum more important than your own kids? What are you doing with your life?" Neither of them could speak. After a minute the neighbor said, "Who do you think you are, coming over here and telling me how to run my life?" Though she was trying to sound mad, Jenkins could tell she was fighting down a lump in her throat. "Just thought you'd like to know that you're wasting your life

2009-2010 â– 46


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