“We need leaves.” Jordan rolls a metal cannister across the ground and stands it upright in front of the group. “Lots of leaves.”
Melissa squints at him, uncertain of this plan. It’s not that they lack the materials. Piles of drying leaves sit around them at uneven increments. “Isn’t burning leaves bad for you?”
“We’ll keep it contained,” he replies with a smile. “And it will involve less hauling, and your yard will be just as clear.” He then rests a hand on his hip. “Do you want it done or not?”
“This isn’t about what I want done,” Melissa huffs. “I don’t want us to make ourselves sick by burning dirty leaves.”
Jordan makes a face at her before reaching for the rake and shovel. “Fine. Then you stay far over there and start raking. I’ll transport and burn.” He flashes her a smile. “Relax, Mel. It’ll be fine.”
She takes another deep breath before nodding as she takes the rake. “Fine. But if we get in trouble, I’m blaming you.”
An hour later, a column of black smoke emerges from the metal barrel and the yard is full of the scent of burning leaves. It almost smells like burning paper, but there’s something almost rancid to it. Her nose wrinkles as she hangs back, watching as Jordan feeds more leaves into the barrel.
He put a mask on to protect himself. She’s glad he listens to her that much.
She runs a hand through her hair as he comes back closer to her, draping an arm around her shoulders before gesturing to the patches of green grass that they can now see. “See? Not too bad, is it?”
Melissa shakes her head. “I’m still not sure this was a good idea.”
“Relax, babe.” He presses a kiss to the crown of her head. “Everything’ll be fine. We contained the fire, we’re being safe as we do it—”
The sound of sirens rings out in the distance. They both stop and turn, eyes widening as the police car and fire truck pull to a stop in front of their property.
“Did you check if it was legal to do?”
Jordan runs a hand against the back of her neck before looking at her uncomfortably. “Yeah, I may have forgotten that part.”
She groans, burying her face in her hands as she does. “If you get me arrested, I am never speaking to you again.”
fall/autumn: burning leaves (411 words)
Melissa squints at him, uncertain of this plan. It’s not that they lack the materials. Piles of drying leaves sit around them at uneven increments. “Isn’t burning leaves bad for you?”
“We’ll keep it contained,” he replies with a smile. “And it will involve less hauling, and your yard will be just as clear.” He then rests a hand on his hip. “Do you want it done or not?”
“This isn’t about what I want done,” Melissa huffs. “I don’t want us to make ourselves sick by burning dirty leaves.”
Jordan makes a face at her before reaching for the rake and shovel. “Fine. Then you stay far over there and start raking. I’ll transport and burn.” He flashes her a smile. “Relax, Mel. It’ll be fine.”
She takes another deep breath before nodding as she takes the rake. “Fine. But if we get in trouble, I’m blaming you.”
An hour later, a column of black smoke emerges from the metal barrel and the yard is full of the scent of burning leaves. It almost smells like burning paper, but there’s something almost rancid to it. Her nose wrinkles as she hangs back, watching as Jordan feeds more leaves into the barrel.
He put a mask on to protect himself. She’s glad he listens to her that much.
She runs a hand through her hair as he comes back closer to her, draping an arm around her shoulders before gesturing to the patches of green grass that they can now see. “See? Not too bad, is it?”
Melissa shakes her head. “I’m still not sure this was a good idea.”
“Relax, babe.” He presses a kiss to the crown of her head. “Everything’ll be fine. We contained the fire, we’re being safe as we do it—”
The sound of sirens rings out in the distance. They both stop and turn, eyes widening as the police car and fire truck pull to a stop in front of their property.
“Did you check if it was legal to do?”
Jordan runs a hand against the back of her neck before looking at her uncomfortably. “Yeah, I may have forgotten that part.”
She groans, burying her face in her hands as she does. “If you get me arrested, I am never speaking to you again.”
“But we’re married.”
“Never again!”