me. I even told him about what the cab driver said. He told me that she was lying to make herself feel better and stuff.
“You know,” he said, “she just doesn’t know how to love a kid like you. You’re bigger than anything she could hold. And I ain’t talking about size, Carter. You’re stronger than she is, because you can see past the damaged relationship she’s in.”
I turned to look at him. He was wise, smart, and someone I wanted in my life. He had no idea what that meant to me, but at the same time, I think he did.
And now, I’m headed back over there to trim the trees some. There are a lot of dead branches that need to be cut off. And the bike that he gave me sure helps me a lot. It’s nice, being able to ride around this small town. Oh, and the name of this town is Mason. It’s not really in Mason County, but the town likes to pretend it’s cut off from the rest of Georgia. I guess they feel like it makes them more secluded and perfect or something. Because this town makes me think of The Stepford Wives in some ways. And it’s not because everyone’s rich, cause they aren’t. It’s because everyone’s really nice.
“Mr. Daniels,” Jeb hollers from across the lawn. He’s sitting on his wide front porch in his overalls and straw hat. He’s just like I’d picture someone from this small town. And his long grey beard and hair just add to it.
“Yes, Mr. Mason.” I approach him after getting off my bike and propping it against the side of the fence. There’s no kickstand anymore, and I don’t want to just throw it on the ground. He’s the guy that owns this whole town. I mean, it was his relatives that built it and helped it grow. And now he’s the last one in the family. He told me yesterday that he didn’t want to marry anyone from this town because all they wanted was the money. When I asked him why he didn’t leave, he said that the town couldn’t go on without him. At that point, I was confused. Because when he dies, the town will be without anyone with the last name of Mason.
“The equipment that you need is in the shed behind the house. When you need water, come on in this main door. Whatever you do, son, don’t go up them stairs over yonder. You hear me good, Mr. Daniels?” Jeb leans forward and squints. His grey eyes pierce through my soul. I can tell he’s pretty serious.
I hold my hands up in surrender and back up. There’s nothing to really say to that. And I’m pretty certain that my actions speak louder than words.
And I’m right cause h e just laughs. When he’s done, he clears his throat so he can speak. “I knew you were a good man, Carter.”
I smile at him. “Thank you, sir. That means a lot to me.”
“ Anytime, Carter. Now shoo. And make sure you have some fun. There’s nothing like good yard work. Heck, before my knee went out, I had the body of some o’ them celebrities out there now. And boy was I a looker.” He laughs and flexes his arm.
I shake my head back and forth and head for the shed. And he’s right. The yard work is nice. I can feel my muscles working, stretching and relaxing. Pretty soon, I’m tired and thirsty, so I head inside to grab some water. Jeb’s sitting on the couch talking to a woman. She has a rough, scratchy voice and dark, curly hair that stops halfway down her back. It makes her look younger, but I can see her true age when I look at her hands. And her blue eyes are sad. For some reason, I feel like I know her. But Jeb shoos me outside before I can figure it out. And I do as I’m told, because I don’t want to get him mad.
So I go back out and sit on the porch before I finish the trees in the front yard. Jeb comes out and gets me when the sun starts setting. He waves me over onto the porch. When I get there, he puts his hands on his hips and clears his throat. “Carter, do you have food at home right now?” he asks.
I sigh but answer honestly. “No, sir. And I don’t want you to feel like you owe me
“You know,” he said, “she just doesn’t know how to love a kid like you. You’re bigger than anything she could hold. And I ain’t talking about size, Carter. You’re stronger than she is, because you can see past the damaged relationship she’s in.”
I turned to look at him. He was wise, smart, and someone I wanted in my life. He had no idea what that meant to me, but at the same time, I think he did.
And now, I’m headed back over there to trim the trees some. There are a lot of dead branches that need to be cut off. And the bike that he gave me sure helps me a lot. It’s nice, being able to ride around this small town. Oh, and the name of this town is Mason. It’s not really in Mason County, but the town likes to pretend it’s cut off from the rest of Georgia. I guess they feel like it makes them more secluded and perfect or something. Because this town makes me think of The Stepford Wives in some ways. And it’s not because everyone’s rich, cause they aren’t. It’s because everyone’s really nice.
“Mr. Daniels,” Jeb hollers from across the lawn. He’s sitting on his wide front porch in his overalls and straw hat. He’s just like I’d picture someone from this small town. And his long grey beard and hair just add to it.
“Yes, Mr. Mason.” I approach him after getting off my bike and propping it against the side of the fence. There’s no kickstand anymore, and I don’t want to just throw it on the ground. He’s the guy that owns this whole town. I mean, it was his relatives that built it and helped it grow. And now he’s the last one in the family. He told me yesterday that he didn’t want to marry anyone from this town because all they wanted was the money. When I asked him why he didn’t leave, he said that the town couldn’t go on without him. At that point, I was confused. Because when he dies, the town will be without anyone with the last name of Mason.
“The equipment that you need is in the shed behind the house. When you need water, come on in this main door. Whatever you do, son, don’t go up them stairs over yonder. You hear me good, Mr. Daniels?” Jeb leans forward and squints. His grey eyes pierce through my soul. I can tell he’s pretty serious.
I hold my hands up in surrender and back up. There’s nothing to really say to that. And I’m pretty certain that my actions speak louder than words.
And I’m right cause h e just laughs. When he’s done, he clears his throat so he can speak. “I knew you were a good man, Carter.”
I smile at him. “Thank you, sir. That means a lot to me.”
“ Anytime, Carter. Now shoo. And make sure you have some fun. There’s nothing like good yard work. Heck, before my knee went out, I had the body of some o’ them celebrities out there now. And boy was I a looker.” He laughs and flexes his arm.
I shake my head back and forth and head for the shed. And he’s right. The yard work is nice. I can feel my muscles working, stretching and relaxing. Pretty soon, I’m tired and thirsty, so I head inside to grab some water. Jeb’s sitting on the couch talking to a woman. She has a rough, scratchy voice and dark, curly hair that stops halfway down her back. It makes her look younger, but I can see her true age when I look at her hands. And her blue eyes are sad. For some reason, I feel like I know her. But Jeb shoos me outside before I can figure it out. And I do as I’m told, because I don’t want to get him mad.
So I go back out and sit on the porch before I finish the trees in the front yard. Jeb comes out and gets me when the sun starts setting. He waves me over onto the porch. When I get there, he puts his hands on his hips and clears his throat. “Carter, do you have food at home right now?” he asks.
I sigh but answer honestly. “No, sir. And I don’t want you to feel like you owe me
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