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Bobby worked along with his
aunt. He pulled heavy soil out from places where it was built up around
trees. The lithe young body allowed the man to set shovel fulls of
transplants to wherever his aunt asked they be put. As he worked his
strong arms and handsome good looks coming from being half of this and
half of that, obviously caught the attention of a neighbor woman. She
some how or another managed to find one or another chore in her front yard
as they worked at the street side of their property.
Dee noticed her but said
not a word. If Bobby noticed, he certainly never gave an indication of
it.
“Bobby, we need to turn
this soil under the junipers so I can throw some flower seeds there. It
will also help to catch the run off down this hill. If you will set your
shovel deep on the upper part of the bush, the water will run in there and
not so deep on the lower side. Also helps to keep these old bushes
healthy for a while longer and then I won't be here to care, later.”
“Aw Auntie! You will be
around a good while yet.”
“I don't know, Bobbie.
Just a few years back I wouldn't have to be bothering you with this.”
“It is no problem, Auntie.
I'm glad to do it.”
Over the years Dee
sometimes grieved over things to go on with their family. Like any other
family they had their ups and downs and joked about taking a blue ribbon
for being dysfunctional if awards were given out for such. But, when some
kind act by one of the nephews or nieces came around it was like a cold
drink of water in the heat of the dessert, altogether and completely
satisfying.
“What next?” Bobbie was
moving right on from one chore to another.
“I need to fill with soil a
bit around the pear tree. The roots must be more protected. Again that
wash off from the downward flow of water. I'm experimenting with bamboo
in that bed across there behind the house. The flower bed at this drop
off has slowed the downward rush of the water considerably. I've set
starts of bamboo here. I don't know what is going to happen. I read it
takes two years before there is any progress.”
“Hmm. I can tell you what
will happen if it does take hold. You will have to mow beside it to
maintain. It travels by the roots. Some say it has even grown up through
cement. However, mowing will contain it. It should be a very nice
windbreak for you too. It has a beautiful sound in the wind.”
“Well, I'm not totally sure
I want to leave this here. Haven't made a decision. This may not even be
a good variety. I bought it without knowing. Now, I read it is called,
good-luck bamboo and is really a variety to be grown in the house.”
“Oh yes, it is a wonderful
plant for indoors and is supposed to be a better air purifier than even
electronic air cleaners.”
“Hard to believe isn't it?”
“Yep, but plants are all
wonderful, each in their own way. Every one of them has some contribution
to make to the environment.”
“Kind of like people, huh?”
“Bobby, if you don't need
me for a bit I'm going to work on my Starwalker series.”
“Oh yes, Auntie. I've been
meaning to call your attention to that. You know about the Starwalker
movie? They are sure to have copyrights on that.”
“Why I'm doing it?”
“Oh yeah? How is that? I
don't understand?”
“Well, you see, that was an
Osage name. Wats a moie, John Hunter, and I think he had the name quite
some years before movies or televisions were ever created.”
“Are you serious?” Bobby
was surprised.
“Oh yes, John Hunter, the
original Starwalker. Isn't that a hoot? So, you see, I think we have a
claim to the original Starwalker. I guess it is sort of like, “we were
here first.”
Bobby and his Aunt enjoyed
the beauty of the weather and he was totally engrossed in his love for
gardening, as usual. While they laughed together about the original
Starwalker Dee had another reason to chuckle to herself.
The woman next door in her
short shorts and halter top had all but stood on her head and done
cartwheels to catch the man's attention. Maybe because he worked all the
time in the public at this same vocation or maybe because he was just
absorbed with the love of his chores. He never did notice her.
“Randy, you are such a good
helper.” Bobbie was encouraging the four-year-old.
Dee was thinking to
herself. “No, Bobby. It is you who are the good helper.” |
