Nine-year-old boys see everything, but all he cared about was that the back gate stayed unlocked so he could dash down to the dry wash past the fence.

I set the second Mister Lincoln next to the first and shoveled the dark dirt back in around the base of the plant.

I tamped the soil down firmly with the flat heel of my shoe.

I unwound the green rubber hose from the brass hook beside the spigot.

The water came out cold and clear, puddling around the base of the bush until the soil drank it in.

Renee had texted me Monday evening while I was unpacking my box of linens.