got a saw revving and wailing across the street； and
in between cuts I can hear the whack； whack； whack！ whack； whack； whack！ of a hammer。
I look out the window and there's Juli； spitting out nails and
slamming them in place。 No kidding。 She's got nails lined up between her lips like steel
cigarettes； and she's swinging that hammer full…arc； way
above her head； driving nails into pickets like they're going into butter。
For a split second there； I saw my head as the recipient of her hammer； cracking open like
Humpty Dumpty。 I shuddered and dropped the curtain；
ditched the homework； and headed for the TV。
They handymanned all week。 And every night Granddad would e in with rosy cheeks
and a huge appetite and pliment my mom on what a
great cook she was。 Then Saturday happened。 And the last thing I wanted was to spend the
day at home while my grandfather churned up dirt and
helped plant Juli's yard。 Mom tried to get me to do our own yard； but I would have felt
ridiculous micromowing our grass with Granddad and Juli
making real changes right across the street。
So I locked myself in my room and called Garrett。 He wasn't home； and everybody else I
called had stuff they had to do。 And hitting up Mom or
Dad for a ride to the movies or the mall was hopeless。 They'd tell me I was supposed to be
doing the yard。
What I was； was stuck。
……… Pa