Sunlight
slipped slowly away from the two backyards as Walter sat on his back
porch. It would soon be dark, allowing him
to begin his work. He sipped his coffee
as he waited. The caffeine would be
needed for a long night. The strategy
ready, now he only needed night’s cover.
Betty
opened the screen door just a crack and peeked out. She asked her distracted husband, “Dear, it
is getting late. Are you coming to bed?”
The
questioned revived Walter from his thoughts.
Time for a quick lie. He
answered, “Oh go on ahead without me, darling.
I’ll come in after I finished my coffee.
Just go to sleep, I’ll shut off the lights and lock the door.”
“Why
are you drinking coffee before bed?”
“Oh,
oh, uh,” Walter stammered, “I guess. I
guess, because I like to feel a little kick before bed, you know.”
Betty,
too tired to deal with that answer, rolled her eyes, and decided to leave it for
the morning. She left her husband on the
porch, not knowing the plot about to be unfurled.
Now
alone, Walter rose up from his chair with exceedingly impressive stealth for an
old man and headed to his shed. As he
walked, he pulled the flashlight from his pocket to make it easier to see. For only a minute he fumbled around with his
keys until finding the correct one to unlock the doors.
Once
inside his base of operations, he located the trimmer. Finally,
my girl, we shall put right all that is wrong in the world, Walter thought
as he filled the tank with gasoline.
Quietly
and unnoticed by anyone around, Walter crossed over into the other lawn towards
the hedges that lined the back fence.
Walter thought maybe another night would be needed, but he would
sacrifice all his time just to see it done.
Coming every night to see that the yard was taken care of never occurred
to Walter until now. He smiled as he
thought of himself being a like the little elves that helped the cobbler. What a service he could provide for his
common man. Maybe this was now his
purpose in life.
Walter
yanked the rope to start the trimmer, and she started with a loud roar. It was music to Walter’s ears. Back and forth he swept the hedges to make
the outcome smooth. Walter’s heart felt
such joy.
Now
it would be nice if the outcome for Walter was that of completing his
task. Life could go on merrily for
everyone. The Whites would have a clean
yard and the Shermans would live in harmony once again with everyone on the
block. But this is not a fairy tale.
Unbeknownst
to Walter, for his ignorance and blindness to the situation, he failed to
realize that his industrial grade hedge trimmer would wake everyone on the
block. Mrs. Sherman sat up straight in
her bed. Unsure what her husband was
doing, she jumped out of bed and rushed to put on her robe and slippers to find
out.
As
for the Mrs. White, who was quietly watching a movie with her husband and nine-year-old
son, sprang to the window. Without
hesitation she dialed 911 on her cell phone and pleaded for help. Some unknown stranger was in their backyard
with a chainsaw, tearing up her yard.
Mr. White, ran to grab the baseball bat he kept under his bed. As for little Tommy White, he rushed to stand
behind his mother to keep safe as she peered out the window. If only they were aware that it was only old
Mr. Sherman their not so pleasant neighbor, but it was too late the police were
called.
By
that time, Betty reached her husband and was yelling at him to stop the
engine. Walter heard nothing for the
engine was too loud.
There
happened to be a police patrol car on the street, making it’s rounds, that two police
officers were on the scene immediately.
They shined their lights into the back yard, lighting up the criminals
in the act. Then and only then, did
Walter stop the trimmer’s engine and look around to find his wife facing the
light with her hands high in the air.
Shock all over her face.
“Place
your weapon on the ground, sir, and put your hands up!”
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