The field crew had company.
One Extra Parcel
Nora spotted the extra parcel when she reached into Mina’s basket for a bottle of water.
“There are five lunches,” she said.
“There are,” Mina replied.
Nora counted again. Three friends had spent the morning preparing a garden bed: Nora, Cal, and Finn. Mina had brought lunch for them and for herself.
“Are we expecting someone?”
“I hope so.”
Cal lifted his spade from the path. “Is it someone who knows about gardens?”
“Possibly.”
He looked back at the bed they had just finished. The soil was neatly turned, apart from a small mound near the corner.
“Should we flatten that?”
Finn glanced over his shoulder. “You said it was a very good mound.”
“I said it would be useful if we needed a mound.”
Mina adjusted the cloth over the basket. “Let’s leave it for now.”
They set off towards their usual lunch table. Nora carried the water bottle, Cal and Finn carried their tools, and Mina followed with the basket.
Who’s Coming to Lunch?
“Have you invited someone to inspect our work?” Cal asked.
“No,” Mina said.
“That’s a relief.”
“Although they may be interested in seeing it.”
Cal slowed down. “Should I clean the spade?”
Finn looked at the mud on Cal’s boots. “You could start with those.”
Nora peered into the basket once more. “Does our guest like what you’ve brought?”
“I asked this morning,” Mina said.
“So you know who it is.”
“I do.”
“And they know they’re invited?”
“They do.”
Finn waited for more. When Mina continued walking, he moved beside her.
“Is it someone who knows where my rake goes?”
“Where did you leave it?”
“That’s what I’d like to ask our guest.”
Nora pointed to the rake in his hand.
“I’ve found it now,” Finn said.
At the bend in the path, they could see the neighbouring garden. Mr Hart was beside the fence, holding a wooden board against two posts.
Mina lifted her free hand to wave. He waved back, then caught the board as it slipped.
The Last Board
“Mina!” Mr Hart called. “I’m sorry. This is taking longer than I expected.”
“We haven’t started without you,” she said. “Would you still like to join us?”
“I would. I just need to secure this before I leave it.”
The others stopped by the fence. They had seen Mr Hart working there for several mornings, but they had exchanged little more than greetings.
“Mina told me about your garden bed,” he said. “I moved in recently, so I’m still getting to know what everyone grows.”
“And I brought an extra lunch,” Mina told the others. “Mr Hart said he might be able to come.”
“I didn’t want to promise until I’d finished this section.”
Finn set down his rake. “Would it help if I held the board?”
“It would. Could you keep that end against the post while I fasten it?”
Finn held the board in place. Mr Hart checked that it was level, then tightened the fastener. Cal and Nora set their tools away from the path and waited.
“There,” Mr Hart said at last. He gave the board a gentle push. It stayed where it was.
“Now I’m ready for lunch.”
As they walked towards the table, Cal glanced at the parcel in the basket.
“I thought Mina had invited a gardening expert to inspect our work.”
“I do enjoy gardening,” Mr Hart said. “But today I seem to be an expert at attaching one board.”
“A useful skill,” Finn said. “You managed it before the food disappeared.”
Something Else to Share
Mina spread the cloth over the table and handed out the parcels. Mr Hart sat between Nora and Finn, where he could see the newly prepared garden bed.
“That mound is intentional,” Cal told him.
“Good,” said Mr Hart. “I was about to compliment it.”
Nora passed around the water bottle. Mina opened her own parcel and sat down with the others.
Mr Hart asked what they planned to grow. Nora described the flowers she had chosen for one side, while Cal explained where the vegetables would go. Finn pointed towards the fence.
“We’ll be able to see your garden from ours.”
“I hope so,” Mr Hart said. “Once I’ve found it under the weeds.”
When everyone had finished eating, Mina began folding the cloth. Mr Hart noticed that Finn’s parcel was still rather full.
“Are you saving something for later?”
Finn opened the paper.
“Oh. I brought fruit.”
He took out two apples and a small knife from his bag.
“I meant to share these.”
“You said that last time,” Nora reminded him.
“Last time I remembered before I got home.”
“Just before,” Cal said.
Finn cut the apples and passed the pieces around. Mr Hart took one and looked towards his fence.
“I’m glad that board stayed up.”
“So am I,” Finn said. “Otherwise you might have missed the apples.”
Mina folded the last corner of the cloth.
“Next time, I’ll count them as an extra lunch,” she said, “once they’re out of your bag.”
Finn checked the empty paper in front of him.
“I’ll try to remember sooner.”
“Good,” said Nora. “We might finish the garden before supper.”
Livora Gracely ♥
Leave a Reply