Stinky Is Good In A Garden Of Lies

The smell of the mulch bags made her nauseous. They were piled high along the fence, attracting every species of fly known to man. During her visit to the nursery, Karen voiced her concerns about the condition of the yard, and she was assured that the stinky bags would cure all of her gardening ails. As she dug the small metal spade into the soft, moist soil, she hoped the variety of plants, flowers, and shrubbery she’d hauled home, would survive. She was also glad Agnes offered to help, because she really didn’t have a clue as to where to start. When they moved in, Benny gave her the task of beautifying the lawn. At the time, she gladly accepted the challenge. But as she sat in front of the defunct flowerbed, she began to wonder if she hadn’t drawn the short end of the stick. She could hear the jovial voices in the front yard. Benny knew exactly what he was doing. While she labored, he was having fun with Brad Thoms.

It had been a few years since Agnes laid eyes on Brad. She stood in the window and watched him laugh as he unloaded his supplies. He had a little gray sprinkled through his hair, which she loved. He was still just as gorgeous as he’d been twenty years ago, if not more so. If she didn’t say something to him now, she may never have another chance. She said a quick prayer and headed next door.