The Freshly Mowed Lawn

Love the smell of hard labor in the morning.

Jeremy peeked out the Venetian blinds at his wife mowing the lawn. She insisted that instead of going to the gym today, she’d do some yard work instead. Since Denise wanted to do it, he didn’t stop her. Later he might have to explain to neighbors why he wasn’t out doing the lawn work himself. In fact, when Denise suggested to mow the lawn, Jeremy joked she could only do it if she first went around to the neighbors and tell them her intentions so the neighbors wouldn’t look down on Jeremy.

“Very funny,” she said. “I’m sure you’ll find a way to save face on this.”

The engine came to a stop and Denise finished off her second bottle of water. She looked around at what she had accomplished and pressed on to finish the task.

Presently, the motor stopped again and Denise poked her head in the door and said, “All finished. Can you put it all away for me while I get cleaned up?”

“Sure thing.”

Fifteen minutes later when they met up again, Jeremy thanked her several times.

“I don’t know how you do it so fast,” said Denise. “You must have it down to a science. That thing is so heavy.”

“Just imagine how heavy it would be if you didn’t use the self-propel handle on that thing.”

“The what?”

“Self propel handle. You know, that bar that sticks out about six inches on the handle. You hold it down and it drives the wheels for you so you don’t have to push so hard. It, well, self propels the mower.”

Denise stared at Jeremy and blinked a dozen times.

She said, “Hmph. Is that what that thing’s for?”