A summer weekend in November

I’m walking cash. Feels strange, like with some random childhood summer day. No clouds, no wind really. It’s warm. I have a neighbor down the street, who I am calling Power Nana. We walked past her house and she had a socially distant barbecue going on.

I wonder if this is just a picnic for friends or for the church friends. Or are they happy about the outcome of the election? A few feet further, and I see one of her guests' cars has a faded RGB bumper sticker on it.I smile. And we walk on.

And I'm brought back from summer to today by another neighbor's inflatable turkey statue. Oh yeah, it’s fall.

As we make our way back slowly home, as one does when one walks a basset hound, We pause in front of her house. I try not to interrupt things by looking over and waving, but I end up doing it anyway. I see another neighbor, who reminds me of my long departed father-in-law. We always stop to chat on walks and he gives cash love and a little bit of guff.

They all waved back at me. Happy, smiling. Then I start to hear them talk about Cash a little bit. They are chuckling and he looks at them, takes them in, and then yawns dramatically. They all laugh, big time this time. 

***

“Yes?” I ask, pausing my talk-to-text of the above. We are in my driveway now and I turn around to see a young fellow coming up the drive, saying, “Miss!”

“My aunts down the street love your dog and they wanted him to have these gluten free milk bone treats!”

“Don’t worry, they’re safe,” he says reaching down to pet Cash, who accepted the affection with an unusual grace.

“Oh! Thank you!” I said, “His name is Cash, by the way.”

He pets Cash for a moment longer.

“Where did you come from?”

“Down the street,” he points and then takes off.

“I’m Jenny! And please thank your aunts for the treat!”

I watch him leave and look at Cash: “You flirt!!!”

I open the door for him and pitch him a treat. Then I throw a bag of shit in the dumpster.