After returning home today, I hopped out of the car and saw our next door neighbor’s little girl raking leaves. Although the small child-sized rake still towered over her by a good foot, she was doing her best at the apron of the tree. Nearby was a small colorful pile.
“Make sure you only do the red ones.” I pointed at our tree, which was a solid bright orange. It was also the the only color of leaves scattered over our unraked lawn.
She looked up at her red sugar maple, which was littered in bright red and orange leaves, down at her pile, and pushed the rake away, “Why didn’t someone tell me that? I’ve been working all day!”
I quickly went inside. Mission accomplished.