Short Story: Muriel's Home

I take a step outside, and I feel a blast of chilly Fall air as it breezes leaves through the wind. I love the Fall outdoors. Once I go outside I escape everything: My older sister, my noisome and demanding dog, and my small mountain of math homework left unfinished. The smell of Autumn invades my nostrils, and it reminds of the time before pre-Algebra, when I had so much free time. Free time to be spent on complaining about how much that I needed, just needed, a new bicycle. I did eventually get that bike, and now it sits on a garage shelf, collecting dust. I hear a quiet voice calling out to me from the distance. It slowly turns louder, and I see a figure appear from atop of the hill that our gravel road is on. It is our neighbor, Muriel. She's an old lady of about 75, I'd expect, and waddles a bit as she struggles …show more content…
A large black truck is parked in her yard. Who could that be, parking at an old ladies house like that? Then, a short man, about 50, hops out of the truck. Mr. T! He walks on over to me. He is stumbling, for he is carrying something odd in his hand. I then get close enough to see what it is. "It's called a leaf blower," he exclaims, panting slightly. "Look! You just blow the leaves into the neighbor's yard. Watch!" He presses a button, and air ejects quickly, spreading the leaves into our Muriel's neighbor's yard. "Wee Hee!" he yells, obviously having fun. He then lets me have a try, and tells me I'm a natural. In just fifteen minutes, the whole yard is cleared. "Thanks," I tell him,"But why did you come back?" He just gives me a wide-mouthed grin, and I say no more. Muriel then opens her door and invites us in for some hot chocolate. "You were so sweet to do this for me, Honey," Muriel says, shakily. She then reaches for her purse. I am anxious. What will I get paid? I see a 5-dollar bill come out from her purse. "You buy yourself a coke with this, pumpkin." She smiles. I take the