Hello Neighbours, this posting is a continuation from my last post.

March 20th – Day 1, I show up to Donny’s shop ready for work at 7am. I wasn’t used to getting up so early but I managed just fine.

Donny texted me, letting me know to park out front and wait. While idling I noticed a person who looked homeless wondering around. He suddenly approached my car and hopped in. “Hi” he said, “are you Steven” puzzled and startled by his confidence “yes and you are?” He looked at me “I am Travis, I work with Donny been doing this a week now.” I reached out to shake his hand “Hi Travis nice to meet you, Donny must have forgot to mention you would be coming.”

Together Travis and I waited, Donny eventually came out truck, trailer and a little dog. He walked over to my window. “Ah, I see you met Travis, sorry. Normally you would ride with me but my Dog Lucy is injured and has to ride up front so you two just follow me, I will pay for your gas.” Understandable I nodded and followed Donny across the city to out first location.

The first location oddly happened to be across the street from my childhood home, I couldn’t believe it, I bet when I was a kid I used to see Donny mowing lawns or shovelling driveways… Donny began barking orders while mindful of the clock, we began hustling, raking, mowing you name it we were doing it. When we got the back of the house Donny said we gotta cut this tree down, grab a tarp and put it on the driveway. Somewhere between what he said and what we did we put the tarp in the lawn we already cut, this was a no, no, we would soon learn.

The tree was old and dying it hung into the neighbours yard, Donny grabs a chain saw and an old ladder from the neighbour’s yard. we began trying to communicate with another of how we were going to take a tree down with little to no experience and avoid getting injured in the process. This reminded me of a scene from the 90s TV show Home Improvement with Tim Allen, “more power” I thought in my head waiting for someone with a camera to send the VHS to Americas Home Videos with the late Bob Saget.

We successfully dismantled the tree free of injury and damage to property, hauling branches one by one into our pile on the lawn. Donny eventually came out from the back of the house to see our wonderful pile.

“What the fuck!” Donny yelled “No, you guys why would put this on the lawn, that’s not how it’s done.” Donny looked at us “which one of you did this.” I raised my hand “I did” he shook his head. “Okay we put it on the street then into the truck that way if there is left over it’s in the street and the cities problem.” “Sorry” I said. I had learned my first lesson, his yelling and swearing bothered me but I did make a mistake so I took it on the chin and said nothing.

Later that day we made our way to our 5th home, while in the backyard, Donny was using a leaf blower on the leaves and Travis was mowing the lawn. Donny then said “Hey got get that bag and bring it here.” Ambitious I didn’t ask which bag he meant, running the truck there were trash bags and giant white canvas bags for leaves. so I grabbed the large leaf bag and hauled it into the backyard, awkward and heavy. When Donny say me “What the fuck! Why would you bring such a heavy bag in here you are making a mess, go back and grab the trash bag.” Containing my rage and keeping a cool head I promptly brought back the bag and made and exchange.

Again I took this as my own fault I should have clarified his request more. When that house was done and we were all packed up Donny came over to my car window “I am sorry Steven I shouldn’t have yelled.” “Whatever, it’s cool.” I stated.

The day drags on and we make it back to the shop. Put everything away, Donny then says “can you drive Travis home, I gotta take Lucy to the vet” I agreed and drove Travis home. Travis and I got to know another a bit, he too had been in an abusive relationship with some PSTD and was rebuilding his life, he said he was a gamer, I didn’t inquire much more, he then said “you know I am 32 and I am mowing lawns, it’s hard to think that this is where my life is but I am here.” I didn’t say a thing I am 37 and in the same boat.

March 21st – Day 2, Today it was the same, I picked up Travis and we met Donny on route we tackled house after house same stuff, learning issues, fuck ups and more of Donny yelling and swearing. We get to one house and I am hustling on the leaves Donny comes over to help he shows me a clever technique where you stand inside the bag and the other guy shoved leaves through your legs, makes the job go by faster. While working Donny says “ Do you know any ladies I can fuck?” Shocked I though No, maybe a hooker on 4th Ave. Like what was I gonna think or say, I am not a quick witted comedian. “No sorry, I am actually engaged so I wouldn’t know, maybe Tinder.” I said to Donny. He replied “Does your lady have any friends I could fuck?” I could just imagine how that conversation would go with my sweetie like “hey my new boss wants to fuck do you know anyone we can pump out?”

Remember how I said people just tell me things…

Later after lunch, Donny asks if I need to pee, “yes” I said he then takes me into a guys backyard, “just go in the alley, no one will see you, I know all the best places to pee or poop if you need to.” Keeping I mind Donny works in residential neighborhood’s.

I walk out to the alley, immediately I notice his and my perspectives are different I am six foot four and Donny is a mere Five foot seven. I stick out like a sore thumb and can be seen for kilometres. I brush around and find a tiny bush that could use a drink, I start to pee, suddenly there is a noise, the house at my back is alive. There isn’t much tree protection to block me, a man standing there Dick out peeing on a bush would be easy to spot. I quick look back and a woman is staring at me from her deck, smoking. Great I thought she’s gonna call the cops, $300 ticket here we go. I finish with haste and look back she smiles and waves, my heart races as I slip back into the clients yard.

I guess I escaped that one.

The day lags on, more swearing and more of Donnys wacky opinions. Then while mowing a lawn Donny proceeds to bark at Travis over a stalled motor. Travis stops what he is doing walks over to Donny calmly but sternly states “Don’t you fucking yell at me, I am here to work and learn if you got a problem tell me, but don’t you fucking yell at me.” Donny shaken steps back and continues to blow leaf’s.

Later on Donny apologizes to Travis. I compliment Travis on his courage for standing up for himself.

In my time I have seen few men speak up for themselves in the most beautiful displays of confidence. It’s almost always a boomer loosing his temper and a millennial calmly reacting.

The day is done. I am paid. And ready to go Donny starts talking to me about Pedos in the Catholic Church. I escape the conversation, get home and start looking for a new job.