The Rake

The culprit returns.

Every Fall, Earl raked his yard to catch up with the falling leaves. His lawn was the envy of the block, golden leaves in neat piles, not a single straggler on his full green turf.

So, when his rake disappeared on an October morning, Earl was mortified.

He inspected the garage.

“Didn’t grow legs,” he said.

He asked his wife.

“I don’t touch tools,” she said. “I married you to do that.”

He asked his neighbor, Glenn.

“Borrow it? Why would I borrow a rake when I have a leaf blower the size of Arkansas?”

“Show off,” Earl said.

Days passed. More leaves fell. Earl’s yard was covered four or five leaves high. He was about ready to gather them up by hand but remembered the last time he attempted that, he was laid up for three days with a very sore back. He could certainly afford a new rake, but some mysteries are worth the discovery.

Then, on Saturday, Earl spotted something peculiar across the street: a glint of green plastic in the Thompsons’ backyard. More specifically, in their dog’s kennel.

He crossed the street and knocked. Mrs. Thompson opened the door, wiping her hands on her apron.

“Morning, Helen,” he said. “I believe your dog stole my rake.”

She didn’t blink.

“Oh, you mean Rascal? He’s been nesting.”

“Nesting?”

“He drags things into his kennel for comfort. Hoarding you might call it. Yesterday it was a hose. Week before that, a welcome mat from three houses down.”

Earl walked around the side yard. There, in Rascal’s space, lay his rake, chewed quite a bit on the handle, but definitely his. Alongside it were two tennis balls, a baseball glove, and something resembling a ball cap.

Rascal thumped his tail and barked, proud of his loot.

Earl picked up his rake and turned to go.

“You’ve got quite the collection,” he said.

Rascal wagged his tail faster and barked once.

Back home, Earl spent the afternoon labeling all his tools with a permanent marker.

The next day, he found Rascal sitting in his yard, no leash, tail wagging.

Earl looked down at the dog, then at his newly labeled rake, and smiled.

“All right, pal. Next time, just ask before you borrow it. I may even say yes.”