Page 81 of More To Us

"Why don't you just leave it?" I say. "The tree looks fine."

"The power company's making me cut it back. Says it's growing too close to the lines."

"Why don't you just hire someone? It's dangerous cutting branches like that."

"I don't have money to hire someone. And this is my last day to do it before I get fined." He waves at us. "You kids run along. I'm okay. Just got a little scratched up."

I look at his arm and see a big cut by his elbow with blood seeping out. Kira sees it too. We look at each other and I can tell she wants to help this guy as much as I do. No wonder I like this girl so much.

"You need to get that cleaned up," Kira says, taking him by the arm. "Let's go inside."

"I gotta cut those branches." He tries to yank his arm away from her but he's too weak.

"I'll do it," I tell him. "You got a bigger ladder and maybe a better saw?"

"Kid, I can't let you do that. Like you said, it's dangerous work."

"I do construction for a living. This is nothing."

He pauses, considering it. I hear him wheezing as he breathes. He's in rough shape. There's no way he should be cutting trees.

He points to the garage. "There's a bigger ladder in there but I haven't used it for a while. Make sure the bolts are tight before you get on it. As for the saw, that's all I got."

"That's okay. I might have one in my truck."

"Harold?" An elderly woman is standing at the door to the house. "Everything okay out there?"

"Everything's fine," he calls back. "Just getting some help with the tree. Scraped my arm up a little."

"Let's go clean it up," Kira says, helping him to the door.

I guarantee Lauren wouldn't be doing this. If Lauren were here instead of Kira, she'd be telling me to let the old guy cut his own tree so we could continue on with our day. But that's not how I was raised. I was taught to stop and help when someone needs it, and apparently Kira was taught the same.

As she takes him inside, I search through the back of my truck and find a saw. It's not mine. I think Nash put it in there and forgot to take it out. I bring it over to the ladder and assess the tree. I don't know much about trees so I'm not sure where, or how much, to cut.

I call up my dad. "Hey. Got a question," I say when he answers. We talk so often that I just skip the hello.

"What do you need?"

"You know anything about trees?" I explain the situation, then send him a photo of the tree and he tells me which branches to cut. I knew he'd be able to help. My dad is amazing. He can do most anything. I don't know where he learned all this shit but I find it impressive.

"Be careful," he says. "And stay away from the power lines."

"I will."

"Austin."

"Yeah?"

"It's good you're doing this. Not many people would stop and help."

"I'm just doing what you and Mom taught me."

"Yes, but you're also a good kid. Have a big heart. You always have."

I chuckle. "Don't start getting soft on me, Dad."

"If that man needs anything else done, tell him we'll take care of it."

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