TRESPASSER

Well, I still haven't gotten that last rose planted. My lawn care men have not been here in three weeks now and with all the rain, my grass is very high. But not high enough to hide the trespasser that sneaked up behind me. When I turned and saw IT, my mattock went one way and I went the other. I haven't moved that fast in three years, since I hurt my knees. I paid for it yesterday evening, with pain all night. but I was moving on. I tried to call both my son and my friend and could not get in touch with either one. When I told them about it later, their mild unconcern ruffled my feathers, to say the least. As did their assurance that IT was long gone by then. Just passing through. So, today, I thought I'd keep my eyes pealed but get that rose into the hole that had been dug and abandoned. My eyes were darting to and fro and sure enough, I spotted the invader again, this time on my porch. I must have been slightly incoherent when I called my son at the office. The next thing I knew a police car pulled into the driveway and my good friend Jim began the search. He stopped once to ask me if I was sure that it wasn't a coil of television cable by the fence. He must have been convinced for he resumed his search and this time he saw it. He managed to use his trusty pepper spray before it went under some wood. He advised me to call the local "Mountain Man" who has many years of expertise in this field. My son called him and he came at once. It did not take him long to spot and capture his quarry. I tried to pay him but he refused and instead took the captured prey to his own barn, where IT was welcome as a rodent hunter. Good riddance. I have had a bad case of nerves since then, jumping at every thing I see or feel. It will take me a while to recover. In the meantime, I am sending that last rose to my daughter or putting it in a pot till next spring. If ever!