Page 59 of Southern Comfort
“I’m no boss. Except of myself.”
“That’s what she says,” Hunter adds with a chuckle.
My jaw drops as I pretend being wounded by the words.
Ronnie turns to my son in solidarity.
“It’s getting annoying. I may have to fire her.”
Landon almost does a spit take.
“I will murder you,” he says blank faced.
All four men think that is funny.
“If I suddenly disappear you’ll know what happened.”
“So what’s the update on the pond?”
“I don’t think we can call it that anymore, Dad. It’s more of a big dirty puddle. The trees around it have deposited their fallen leaves and they have decayed. There’s mosquitos and mud and standing water which isn’t good.”
“Get rid of it. Fill it in.”
Landon’s face perks up.
“Oh shit yeah. I was thinking you’d fight me…never mind. I’m glad you made the decision. Barney has taught your dog to play in it.”
As if on cue, the two dogs come running. And barking. That’s the Barney effect. They look like they are participants in a mud run. Covered in filth, but happy as can be.
“Oh my God! Don’t let them up here!” I yell.
It is too late. They have smelled the burgers and nothing is going to stop them. As soon as Barney gets up the steps he shakes off what covers him. The mud flies in a wide pattern, marking everything in its path. Including the pristine pant legs of me, Ronnie, and Hunter. Biscuit doesn’t waste valuable eating time. He sits at the feet of his human and stares at the object of desire. Hamburger.
“Shit!” Landon says. “This will be your job, Hunter. Then you can join us at the pond.”
His father makes a new plan.
“Don’t worry about it. The outside shower in back will take care of them later. I can hose off the porch and steps.”
What? Ronnie is offering to do something not asked? Landon is as surprised as I am, but doesn’t say a word. I don’t want to jinx things either. Lex doesn’t realize how odd this is. He is just happy to have a full belly. He feeds a piece of burger to each dog.
“Pretty soon I’m going to look like you, Ronnie.”
He pats his stomach and laughs. Men generally don’t take it as insult, like women would. Mars and Venus.
“Get hosed, Lex. This is prime beef.” Then to me, “What’s for dessert?”
For Ronnie and me, the remainder of the afternoon was spent wisely. We read. Exercised our cerebral muscle. There was little conversation. As the sun set the men returned, looking as spent as I had imagined. Even Hunter looked like there wasn’t an ounce of energy unused. Lex beat Hunter to the outside shower, then took off. It was heavy, filthy work, and only a good friend, or someone being paid, would be part of it.
Next, Hunter used the shower and changed into the clothes Landon had told him to bring. Like a bat out of hell, he took off. Don’t blame him in the least. Getting back to his phone and messing around with his friends will take on a new meaning. Hopefully he sees that life for an adult is not all fun. It requires much more effort.
I wanted him to realize how hard it is to do this sort of work. Because, in every life some physical work is required. It is good for the soul and good for him to know how to take care of a property. I wasn’t going to be able to be an example of the backbreaking jobs mostly men are saddled with. Mission accomplished. Maybe someday he will put what he has learned to use in his own home.
Landon was in the shower for at least twenty minutes, washing away the dried dirt and sweat of the day. Any other time, I would have been joining. But it wasn’t that kind of a thing. No one was in the mood for a real dinner. We all helped ourselves. Thank God. I didn’t want Ronnie to have to cook and I didn’t want to either. Sometimes a sandwich and a pickle taste as good as filet and mashed potatoes.
Now in bed, staring at the ceiling, I absorb the day.
It is rewarding helping Ronnie. There’s a soft spot in my heart for the man. Who wouldn’t love a caftan wearing, book loving biker? Under the first few layers, he has a soft heart. Especially for his son. It is easy to admire a good parent. We aren’t hard to spot.
