I went to the outdoor spigot and filled a heavy metal bucket with cold water.

The handle dug into my palm as I carried it across the open yard.

I set the bucket down and scooped water onto the base of the tallest bushes.

The dry soil soaked it up immediately.

I kept pouring until the ground around the roots was dark and wet.

A silver Buick turned onto our dirt road and slowed down near the metal mailbox.

It had one hundred ninety thousand miles on it.