TRAILER MEN

JUNE 1997

Bug Bombing Day II. This story really started last year when my mother-in-law found out her shack was infested with copperhead snakes. Found 9 all together. She got bit trying to pick one up to flush it down the toilet. This year she stuck her hand in a shelf for a pot. Got bit again. Tried to kill it with a kitchen knife. Got bit again. Go figure. While she was in the hospital we bought a nice trailer and put it down here at our shack. Her hackels stood on end but when all was said and done she decided she didn't have a choice. Me either. How many men and days does it take to set up a trailer? Don't know yet. Their still coming. Hubby takes mother-in-law in for a check-up. Kids go watch t.v. at her trailer while I set off the bombs. Peace settles over the back 40 and I sigh with relief. But a thought hits me right off. The Big Dog. He's laying there on the porch dreaming he finally catches that jet and buries it, so I slip a big chain on him just in case. Head out to the garden.
Sound of motor.
Big dog hears too. That's ok he's not driving today. Two men to pick up their heavy equipment that dug the field line. Big dog knows and likes big Bill so I let him loose. Big Bill romps awhile with big dog and the rottweilers, then big Bill and his other buddy load up all the stuff and leave. I chain up big dog again. Quiet, Ahhhhhh. Head back out to the garden.
Sound of motor.
Field line checker out to do his thing. Rottweilers stay behind the fence and make a good show. I let him know the rotties won't do anything but bark. At least they never have before. Fieldline checker not watching rotties. Watching big dog. Big dog watching back and showing off his big teeth. Fieldline checker does quickest job of checking he's ever done and takes off. Quiet again.
Take a break and have a porch picnic with my boys. They take off with my wheelbarrel to play "kill the brother" on the gravel hill.
Sound of motor.
Telephone man drives up. Looks at dog and drives off. I smile and wave.
Sound of motor.
Hubby brings mother-in-law back. They fuss all the way to her trailer then quiet descends again.
Sound of motor.
Air-conditioner man here to fix mother-in-law's air-conditioner. Mother-in-law getting revved up and irregular.
Sound of motors.
Trailer workers again. Doing something with the blocks. It takes 6 men to do this. Big dog gives them a stare and lays down on the porch and proceeds to snore. I go in and start cleaning up from the bombs.
Sound of "Hello!"
Then barking and screaming, don't know which came first. I run out and a trailerworker is back peddling and big dog is front peddling. Big dog runs out of chain and does he's famous flip. Trailer worker does a flip too. He keeps treading till he gets back past the gate. Meanwhile the rottweilers see their chance to join the the fun. They have slipped out when trailerworker foolishly opened the gate and stand behind him. Trailerworker looks behind, then at me. And "We're done."
I think about that a minute and say..."Bye"
What did he want? A tip? Quiet again.
Sound of hubby.
"Now momma. They had to use your step blocks for the trailer. Don't walk out! There's no steps here. I'll fix it when I get home. Now I mean it mamma! Don't walk out here! No mamma. Yes mamma. Bye mamma"
Hubby takes what's left of the boys off to Tae Kwon Do class. Peace and quiet is here to stay.

Sound of logic.
Mother-in-law will go out the door. I ease down there and put some more blocks down for steps and ease on back. Let big dog loose and go in and pick up this sign over the fireplace. It say's "Peace on the Mountain"
Toss it in the garbage and push what's left of my wheelbarrel back out to the garden.

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