Nature's Alchemy

Agnes Jamison wakes to birdsong. She listens for a moment before addressing the poodle curled up at the edge of her bed. "Are you hungry, Jake?"

He opens an eye, wags his tail tentatively.

She rises slowly and walks to the kitchen where she prepares coffee and unwraps the muffin she bought yesterday. She and Jake sit outside watching the schoolchildren trudge up the sidewalk. Agnes breaks her muffin into pieces and feeds some to the dog. "I expect we'll mow today."

When the last of the children have gotten onto the bus, Agnes rinses her plate and mug and sets them in the drainer. "Come Jake." She wheels the mower from the garage and studies it.

"What are you doing?"

She turns to see her neighbor, hands on hips. "Good morning, Phil."

"You can't do that."

"Is it too early?"

"I can't..."

"Could you put gas in it?"

"I'll mow. After work."

"I can manage, dear. If you could..."

Phil scowls and picks up the gas can, lowers the nozzle into the tank.

"Now, if you could be so kind as to start it." Agnes says, when he's through. "Ben used to say it was hard to wake in the spring." She blinks away tears, remembering.

Phil puts one foot on a back wheel and pulls the starter. One...Two...Three. He takes a break and tries again. One...Two...

"There!" Agnes takes the handle and pushes the mower into the back yard. She delights in the scent of fresh-cut grass; admires the neat lines etched into her lawn. The dog walks beside her, nosing the grass. She looks to her left and cuts the motor. "Haven't you left?"

"I can't let you mow."

"Too late."

"I won't start it again."

Agnes pulls on the starter cord. The mower roars back to life.

"Why are you doing this?" Phil shouts.

"Because I can," she says.

"It's too much."

"Nature's alchemy changes winter blues into spring fever," she says. "And turns an old woman young again."

This was written for this week's Trifecta Writing Challenge. The word was alchemy.