Yard Work

Yard Work

Andrea ran up to the porch where her mother was sitting. It was a beautiful spring day, warm and sunny. Andrea’s mom was letting her run around the back yard, by herself, for the first time. Keeping an eye on her, of course, she was only three, but Andrea’s first time exploring on her own even if it was in a fenced in backyard, with Mom on the porch.

“I can do magic!” Andrea yelled.

“I bet you can!” Mom said, smiling at Andrea’s joy. “What have you done with your magic?” she asked.

“I made a kitty!”

“How did you do that?” Mom asked, delighted at Andrea’s imagination.

“I said magic words from the movie, ‘Bibby, bobby boo’ and a kitty appeared! I’m gonna go play with it. OK?”

“OK!” Mom said, off Andrea ran.

Mom watched her go to the back corner of the yard. There were straggly bushes there. She and her husband had been planning to replace them for years, but just never got around to it. Now that Andrea could play here, she decided to do it soon.

Looking at the corner, thinking about bushes, she saw Andrea come out from behind one.

Suddenly Mom saw the “kitty.” It was not a kitty, it was a skunk!

Knowing if she ran back there, the skunk would be afraid and spray, but if Andrea got too close she could not only get sprayed, but bitten too. Mom frantically made a decision.

“Andrea! I have cookies!” she called out.

Andrea looked up, smiled, and then immediately started running toward the porch. The skunk, watching her, decided to run too, scooching quickly back under the fence.

As Mom brought Andrea in, she realized they also needed a much better fence.

It was installed the next day.