Faith surveyed the conquered yard. Over near the far end of the yard a few saplings had managed to escape the wrath of the lawn mower. Faith pulled the mower to a start, pushing it forward toward the escapees. With one swift twirl they were no more. He pulled the lever to the picture of the stop sign. The motor died. Tilting the mower on its back wheels, Faith whisked the it around. He pushed the mower towards Gene and his twenty dollars.
Gene seemed to study his every step. Faith thought something was wrong. He looked quickly at Gene eye to eye, but quickly darted his stare down as he got closer.
"You did a good job on the yard, so good in fact that I want you to do one other thing for me."
Faith looked at Gene. Genes hands where in his pockets as he rocked back and forth returning Faith's questioning eyes.
"There's these bricks over here that used to line Mommas flower bed...Well over the years since Momma been gone they done dang near been buried in the ground. My Momma would have a fit if she was here to see them now. What I need you to do is dig them up. Daddy gots and old hoe in the junk house."
Faith was ready to go. All he wanted was his money. His money, and he could go. He looked at Gene uneasily...Gene offered 10 more dollars. Faith calculated the figures in his head. 20 + 10 + 20 - the 10 he would give his Momma, that would leave him forty dollars. "I a do it for 15 mo', Faith uttered.
"Deal," Gene blurted out. Faith critiqued himself, only if he would have said 20 dollars, he bet Gene would have agreed to it. He promised himself quickly he would always ask for more than he really wanted,
He was following Gene to the junk house. They got to the seemingly large junk house. Gen reached at the rustes lock. After wrestling with it for a few seconds the lock gave way. Opening the door, Gene told Faith he could come in too, but Faith thought it too small for the both of them and declined. Gene leaned to the left and returned with a hoe in his hand. He quickly tossed it to Faith. His quick almost deliberate toss caught Faith by surprise, but he was still managed to catch it.
"Man you quick as a scalded dog," Gene said. Faith thanked him for the compliment and walked towards the buried bricks. He was ready to get the job done so he could get his money and go. All the while, Gene kept complimenting him.
As he worked to free the bricks from the cold black earth, Gene complimented him. How big he was, how tall he was, how he had muscles. He compared him to some man named A Donald. His voice was barely audible and Faith rhthymically force the hoe into the earth. Faith dug deeper in the earth. One by one he freed the bricks. until the last one. He had not heard all the compliments reaped upon him by Gene. Faith was lost in the moment. Work...work...work. With each thud Faith grunted Work...work.. work. Gene had not spoken, or maybe he had Faith had been lost drunk with accomplishment.
"Man you are a working mule of a boy I ain't never seen no boy your age work that hard. Your momma sure gone be proud of you. Come on in here so I can get your money."
Faith followed him up the steps inside the house. The music was still blaring. The old man was passed out on the couch. "Its right in here he said."
Saturday, December 05, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Faith's Bar Mitzvah part 26 #420 episode 187
The grass was high. So high in fact that Faith had to tilt the mower on its back wheels to even think about cutting it. He did this two feet by two feet. He mowed in a straight line. Oroamsomm, the mower snatched the grass by its head, chewing it as it whirled throughout its metal skirt. Over and over it grabbed, snapped, chewed, spit. Grab, snap,chew, spit. The motor snarled as it devoured more and more of the tall saplings. Faith felt the trickle of sweat run down his arm. He tilted, pushed, tilted, and pushed until the sweat no longer trickled, it ran down his arm. Like beads racing to the finish line. Which was his waist were it disappeared. Faith smiled. He had sweat. Not running in the wind, playing with the kids sweat. But manly sweat. Money earning sweat. Faith's smile was wide as he tilted, pushed, tilted and pushed his was to the end of the row. On his return he was met by the eyes of Gene.
He must have came outside earlier. He must have been there long enough to light a cigarette and smoke it half way down. He stood when he noticed Faith had saw him. His mouth was moving but the roar of the mower as it chew and spat, drowned his words.
"You need to take..You need to take that...I say you need to take that shir..OFF!" Faith pushed the lever down towards the turtle to the black and white stop sign. The motor shimmed to a stop.
"I didn't mean for you to stop mowing. I was just saying how you would be a lot cooler with that shirt off. Faith looked, Yeah you right. He pulled the shirt off and threw it at Gene. "Could you put it over there for me please. Gene smiled, "Sure and I ah go in the house and get some water for you. Gene walked back to the house glancing back as Faith yanked the mower to life.
Tilt, push, chew, spit. Tilt, push, chew, spit...
Faith had conquered the yard. He had cut it low enough to where the mower could easily glide through the grass. Cutting it close and beautiful. He had mowed so well that he had built an audience. Gene still sat on the stoop. He was on his third cigarette. The old man was in the window. Looking, staring, watching. Every once in a while Faith would see the old man tilt a large gold can to his mouth.
He had mowed the last few rows thinking what he was going to do with the money he was about to receive from Gene. Maybe he would go up to the western auto and find something to buy. Maybe they had a lay away plan, and he could get the bike. With the twenty dollars his Aunt Lela had paid him and the twenty dollars Gene was about to pay him, he would only need forty-two more dollars. Maybe he could find another yard to mow before he went home? Faith pulled the lever to the stop sign as he approached Gene at the step.
He could hear music playing now. Bobby Bland. "They call me good time Charlie." The music bumped. Its sounds echoed through the screen door. "Playboy with a whole lot of soul. I'm the last of the big time spenders. I keep a pocket full of gold."
He must have came outside earlier. He must have been there long enough to light a cigarette and smoke it half way down. He stood when he noticed Faith had saw him. His mouth was moving but the roar of the mower as it chew and spat, drowned his words.
"You need to take..You need to take that...I say you need to take that shir..OFF!" Faith pushed the lever down towards the turtle to the black and white stop sign. The motor shimmed to a stop.
"I didn't mean for you to stop mowing. I was just saying how you would be a lot cooler with that shirt off. Faith looked, Yeah you right. He pulled the shirt off and threw it at Gene. "Could you put it over there for me please. Gene smiled, "Sure and I ah go in the house and get some water for you. Gene walked back to the house glancing back as Faith yanked the mower to life.
Tilt, push, chew, spit. Tilt, push, chew, spit...
Faith had conquered the yard. He had cut it low enough to where the mower could easily glide through the grass. Cutting it close and beautiful. He had mowed so well that he had built an audience. Gene still sat on the stoop. He was on his third cigarette. The old man was in the window. Looking, staring, watching. Every once in a while Faith would see the old man tilt a large gold can to his mouth.
He had mowed the last few rows thinking what he was going to do with the money he was about to receive from Gene. Maybe he would go up to the western auto and find something to buy. Maybe they had a lay away plan, and he could get the bike. With the twenty dollars his Aunt Lela had paid him and the twenty dollars Gene was about to pay him, he would only need forty-two more dollars. Maybe he could find another yard to mow before he went home? Faith pulled the lever to the stop sign as he approached Gene at the step.
He could hear music playing now. Bobby Bland. "They call me good time Charlie." The music bumped. Its sounds echoed through the screen door. "Playboy with a whole lot of soul. I'm the last of the big time spenders. I keep a pocket full of gold."
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Faith's Bar Mitzvah part 25 #420 episode 186
Faith was led through the screened door. Gene reassured him that he would get paid. Said the old man was just that old. Half senile he called it. Said the old man got to ranting and raving round the house a few years back. Faith listened intently as Gene lead him round the old house to the back yard. Every few steps Gene would turn his head and glance at Faith. He seemed nervous but Faith blamed it on the argument with the old man. It must be tough arguing with someone who ain't right in the head, Faith thought.
The grass was a jungle of green. It looked like the old man had been right about the yard not being mowed for some time. Gene pointed to the property line. Marked by a newly blossoming peach tree.
"Over there just beyond that peach tree is a ditch. I need you to mow up to the ditch and over by the fence over there. You don't need to go no further. That's the folks next door property." Genes words became a jumble of garble. Faith understood what he was saying, but his mind was trying to figure out how he would tackle the behemoth of a yard. Genes words came back "If you need any help, just knock on the door, alright." Faith shook his head.
Gene went back inside. Just as Faith made it around the house he heard the old man talking to Gene again. "We all got to go to the slaughter house boy, we all got to do that!" Gene told the old man he did not want to hear any of that stuff he was talking. Gene did not answer the old mans rants anymore, instead he looked over the window at Faith bent down adjusting the wheels for the high grass.
Faith figured he would have to mow the grass twice. Once just get it down low enough to cut again. Faith pulled the cord. Nothing happened. He pulled again, and again, still nothing. He did not know what was wrong. He checked the gas; full. He checked the oil; full. Faith began to pull again. He pulled and pulled until he was exhausted.
The back door to the house opened. "You gone be able to mow it ain't you?" Faith turned to see Gene standing on the back step. "I say you gone be able to mow it ain't you?" Faith told him he could not get the mower started. He told him how he would have to go and find his mamma's friend Johnny Ray so he could look at the mower. Gene assured him that he would not have to do that. He then called the old man to the stoop and asked him to help Faith start the mower.
The old man scampered over to Faith, tools in hand as if he had been waiting on the opportunity. He greeted Faith with a stern look. He spoke as he walked towards Faith.
"Look at me boy when I tells you this, you take this mow and get." The old man reached Faith still muttering for Faith to leave. He bent down acting like he was fixing the mower. Instead he was muttering "I done done some bad thangs in my life but one thing I will not be part of is this ugliness that is going on here! I might be old but..." Gene spoke, "But you what? But you what!" He swung at the old man, hitting him squarely on the jaw. Gene calmly turned back towards Faith. "Ain't nothing wrong but somebody then unhooked the spark plug." He looked towards the old man, who was half way back to the porch after being struck.
Faith pulled the cord. The motor rumbled to life. spewing white smoke as Faith pushed the lever towards the rabbit.
The grass was a jungle of green. It looked like the old man had been right about the yard not being mowed for some time. Gene pointed to the property line. Marked by a newly blossoming peach tree.
"Over there just beyond that peach tree is a ditch. I need you to mow up to the ditch and over by the fence over there. You don't need to go no further. That's the folks next door property." Genes words became a jumble of garble. Faith understood what he was saying, but his mind was trying to figure out how he would tackle the behemoth of a yard. Genes words came back "If you need any help, just knock on the door, alright." Faith shook his head.
Gene went back inside. Just as Faith made it around the house he heard the old man talking to Gene again. "We all got to go to the slaughter house boy, we all got to do that!" Gene told the old man he did not want to hear any of that stuff he was talking. Gene did not answer the old mans rants anymore, instead he looked over the window at Faith bent down adjusting the wheels for the high grass.
Faith figured he would have to mow the grass twice. Once just get it down low enough to cut again. Faith pulled the cord. Nothing happened. He pulled again, and again, still nothing. He did not know what was wrong. He checked the gas; full. He checked the oil; full. Faith began to pull again. He pulled and pulled until he was exhausted.
The back door to the house opened. "You gone be able to mow it ain't you?" Faith turned to see Gene standing on the back step. "I say you gone be able to mow it ain't you?" Faith told him he could not get the mower started. He told him how he would have to go and find his mamma's friend Johnny Ray so he could look at the mower. Gene assured him that he would not have to do that. He then called the old man to the stoop and asked him to help Faith start the mower.
The old man scampered over to Faith, tools in hand as if he had been waiting on the opportunity. He greeted Faith with a stern look. He spoke as he walked towards Faith.
"Look at me boy when I tells you this, you take this mow and get." The old man reached Faith still muttering for Faith to leave. He bent down acting like he was fixing the mower. Instead he was muttering "I done done some bad thangs in my life but one thing I will not be part of is this ugliness that is going on here! I might be old but..." Gene spoke, "But you what? But you what!" He swung at the old man, hitting him squarely on the jaw. Gene calmly turned back towards Faith. "Ain't nothing wrong but somebody then unhooked the spark plug." He looked towards the old man, who was half way back to the porch after being struck.
Faith pulled the cord. The motor rumbled to life. spewing white smoke as Faith pushed the lever towards the rabbit.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Faith's Bar Mitzvah part 24 #420 episode 185
The cool water numbed Faith's throat as he listened to Gene and the father argue. The old man mumbled under his breath, never challenging his son for superiority. Gene on the other hand was pointing his finger telling the old man he was going to get the lawn mowed no matter what. The old man startled Faith, during the course of the argument he had never raised his voice until then. With a loud boisterous voice he spoke up.
"That Dolly Dagger of yours is going to get you killed one day and it just might be today. Don't thank I don't know what you up to boy. I been in this world a mighty long time to notice when de milk is sour. And your'n sho nuff rurnt. But if you thank you fen to be up in my house with a half pint to sour you got another thang coming. Today I put my foot down! No more!"
The old man trembled as he spoke. His eyes stared at Gene. The silence had Faith in suspense. They both stared at each other until Gene spoke.
"You are the craziest old man I have ever seen. I'm paying this boy to mow this yard. Besides summer coming up and I don't want no snakes crawling up in this old rickety house. Now I'm gone go and show this boy what to mow and when I get back in here you and me can have it out if you want to?"
Gene was silent as he reached for Faith's cup. He took the cup and told Faith not to worry he was going to pay him for mowing the yard. He walked back to the kitchen to put the glass away disappearing for a brief moment. That's when the old man turned and spoke to Faith.
"Look boy this yard don't need no mowing. If you want to mow something I can send you round to my sisters house. Her yard need mowing. Whatever he paying you I will pay you double. Is it a deal?"
He stuck out his hand for acceptance to the deal just offered Faith. Just as Faith was about to shake his hand to accept the offer, Gene walked from around the corner. He yelled at his father.
"Get on away from here old man! Get I say!" Gene talked to the old man like a dog.
The old man flinched as if he were a dog and cowered over in a corner. Gene opened the door to show Faith what needed mowed. Turning back towards the old man Gene spoke.
"I'm just trying to show this boy how to make some money like you showed me. Is anything wrong with that?"
The old man was silent for a second. Then he began to pray. "Lord forgive me for my sin's, throw them in the sea of forget...
"That Dolly Dagger of yours is going to get you killed one day and it just might be today. Don't thank I don't know what you up to boy. I been in this world a mighty long time to notice when de milk is sour. And your'n sho nuff rurnt. But if you thank you fen to be up in my house with a half pint to sour you got another thang coming. Today I put my foot down! No more!"
The old man trembled as he spoke. His eyes stared at Gene. The silence had Faith in suspense. They both stared at each other until Gene spoke.
"You are the craziest old man I have ever seen. I'm paying this boy to mow this yard. Besides summer coming up and I don't want no snakes crawling up in this old rickety house. Now I'm gone go and show this boy what to mow and when I get back in here you and me can have it out if you want to?"
Gene was silent as he reached for Faith's cup. He took the cup and told Faith not to worry he was going to pay him for mowing the yard. He walked back to the kitchen to put the glass away disappearing for a brief moment. That's when the old man turned and spoke to Faith.
"Look boy this yard don't need no mowing. If you want to mow something I can send you round to my sisters house. Her yard need mowing. Whatever he paying you I will pay you double. Is it a deal?"
He stuck out his hand for acceptance to the deal just offered Faith. Just as Faith was about to shake his hand to accept the offer, Gene walked from around the corner. He yelled at his father.
"Get on away from here old man! Get I say!" Gene talked to the old man like a dog.
The old man flinched as if he were a dog and cowered over in a corner. Gene opened the door to show Faith what needed mowed. Turning back towards the old man Gene spoke.
"I'm just trying to show this boy how to make some money like you showed me. Is anything wrong with that?"
The old man was silent for a second. Then he began to pray. "Lord forgive me for my sin's, throw them in the sea of forget...
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Faith's Bar Miztvah part 23 #420 episode 184
"Man don't come from man, man come from God!," and with those words he welcomed Faith into his yard. He stood watching Faith as he approached with the lawnmower. His pants shod his bony hips, hanging so loosely that it showed below his waist. They were Sunday past pants. To old to wear to church, yet too new to throw away. He had no shirt on, only a vest to match his Sunday past pants. His bald black head turned a pale pasty pink at its crown. The largest patch being at the front. It's pinkish hue seeped into his dark skin just above his left eyebrow.
"Go on and look," he growled from the porch. "While you staring, you got a plank in yours just the same!" Faith approached with caution. Who was this man, mumbling this nonsense? Faith slowed his pace to a stop, at least ten yards from the porch. He stepped from the porch. His loud voice was reduced to a whisper. Faith could not tell what he was saying but as he got closer, he could make it out.
"You get while the gettin' is good. Look down at yah feets ain't nothing but gravel dere. I don't need you to do no mowin for me, this yard ain't been mowed in 7 year I know. Now you get, get I say!
Faith was scared he did not know whether to stay or go. His feet said go, but his heart said stay. His heart told him he was a man. His heart made him remember the twenty dollar bill in his pocket. Just as his legs were about to decide that the old man was crazy. Gene came from the house.
He came down from the porch shaking his head. "Don't worry bout daddy, he old and set in his ways. I say this yard needs mowing and that what I meant." He grabbed the old man by his shoulders, turning him around and slightly pushed him towards the door.
Gene invited Faith in for a cool drink, Faith accepted. The walk from his Aunt Lela's had been a hot one.
"Go on and look," he growled from the porch. "While you staring, you got a plank in yours just the same!" Faith approached with caution. Who was this man, mumbling this nonsense? Faith slowed his pace to a stop, at least ten yards from the porch. He stepped from the porch. His loud voice was reduced to a whisper. Faith could not tell what he was saying but as he got closer, he could make it out.
"You get while the gettin' is good. Look down at yah feets ain't nothing but gravel dere. I don't need you to do no mowin for me, this yard ain't been mowed in 7 year I know. Now you get, get I say!
Faith was scared he did not know whether to stay or go. His feet said go, but his heart said stay. His heart told him he was a man. His heart made him remember the twenty dollar bill in his pocket. Just as his legs were about to decide that the old man was crazy. Gene came from the house.
He came down from the porch shaking his head. "Don't worry bout daddy, he old and set in his ways. I say this yard needs mowing and that what I meant." He grabbed the old man by his shoulders, turning him around and slightly pushed him towards the door.
Gene invited Faith in for a cool drink, Faith accepted. The walk from his Aunt Lela's had been a hot one.
Friday, October 02, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Faith's Bar Mitzvah part 22 #420 episode 182
The twenty dollar bill she gave him felt like responsibility. He had did what the men did, he had worked. He had sweat. He had been paid. He was surprised at how different the twenty felt, compared to the dollar bill. It surely must have been worth more than just twenty of the inferior dollars. With all its beauty they should have made a 30 dollar bill,he figured. He thought of how he would design his 30 dollar bill, while pushing the lawn mower towards Gene's father's house. He looked back at his Aunt Lela's house proud of his work. Turning towards the funeral home he lowered his hands around the handle and climbed the hill. The road was newly paved, which made it that much harder in the April sun. When he reached Gene's father's house he was tired. The only thing that made him feel better was the thought of the 20 dollar bill in his pocket. He would give his mother ten. That would leave 10 for him. His Aunt Lela told him she could take five of it and put it up for him. She said he should never spend all of his money as soon as he gets it. Faith figured she was just trying to pull one over on him. He had heard of her shrewdness when it came to money. He declined her offer.
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