Eyes on the Unseen Prize

Chapter 17

  Can I Tell You Something?

  “I have something for you,” Piper’s neighbor Dexter called out as she rode her bike past his house.

  She stopped her bike on his driveway and waited for him to return from the inside of his house. A minute or so later, he walked out carrying a business card with the name “Dexter” scribbled on the back.

  “Call him,” he said. “He’ll do a good job for you.”

  “He definitely makes your lawn look nice.”

  “I know.”

  Dexter was dressed in his usual type of outfit, which was a short-sleeve button down shirt and long khaki pants. She never saw him in shorts, jeans, t-shirts, or long sleeves, so one might say what he was wearing that day was his uniform. He was probably around sixty years old, but he could have been older. His dark skin handled the sun well, leaving him with few wrinkles or age spots. A slender man with an upright posture, he appeared to be very healthy.

  “I’ll call him after Christmas. I don’t want to be a Scrooge and fire the company I’m currently employing just before Christmas.”

  “Okay.”

  “The Fellowship Church is having a big celebration for Christmas with a living nativity. If you don’t have any other plans, you might want to go there. We’ll be going to the Christmas Eve service.”

  “I might do that,” he said with a slight nod.

  “They make a big deal out of Christmas there. You should go,” she said as she hopped back onto her bike. “Well, see you later.”

  A few days later, Piper saw Dexter again. He and his wife came to the neighborhood block party and Piper found them in a neighbor’s garage where all of the potluck dishes had been brought.

  “I haven’t called them yet Dexter,” she said, “but I will in early January. I need to cancel my other company.”

  “Yes, you do,” he said. “I’ve been watching them. The guy comes out and sprays only a part of your lawn, ignoring whole sides sometimes. Last time he came, he missed the part of your lawn between the sidewalk and street. The whole strip of grass! I would fire him immediately.”

  “Well, I have to admit that our lawn doesn’t look nearly as nice as yours.”

  “I know.”

  “Hopefully it will in a few months after we get your guy.”

  “It will. And your husband is mowing the grass too low. It needs to be higher. It doesn’t thicken when you cut it so close to the ground.”

  “I’ll tell him. We water it every other day, just like you.”

  “Yes, I know. I’ve been watching.”

  “You’re up that early in the morning?” Piper asked, knowing her sprinklers run around 4 a.m.

  “Yes. My breakfast table sits in front of the window with a view of your lawn.”

  Dexter’s wife Bernice walked up. Like Dexter, she was in her usual uniform, which was a modest, light-colored cotton dress. Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun, as always.

  “I was just complimenting Dexter on your lawn,” Piper said to her. “It’s very plush. The neighborhood kids learned to ride bikes on the sidewalk by your house so if they fell, they would land on that thick carpet.”

  Dexter laughed. “Thank you.”

  Piper knew two things about Dexter: he had too much time on his hands and he loved his lawn. That was pretty much it. Any other conversations were quick to bore Dexter, so Piper always made sure to weave a discussion of his lawn within their conversations.

  “Are you going to play in the corn hole tournament?” She asked Dexter.

  “No. No way.” He made his way over to another neighbor to strike up a discussion with him.

  “You like to ride your bike a lot,” Bernice said. “I see you riding by my house all the time. You always go the opposite way that most people go to get out of the neighborhood.”

  “Yeah, that’s my route. I go by your house, circle around the outskirts of the neighborhood, and then come back into the entrance that you use to go out.”

  “Oh, you go all the way around the neighborhood? That’s a long ride.”

  “I like biking. Helps me to declutter my mind.”

  The many bike paths in their neighborhood traversed through woody areas, ponds, and a variety of homes, both magnificent and modest. The trees along the paths were of several varieties, from sable palms to pine trees to trees bearing acorns and Spanish moss. The ponds were stocked with bass and catfish, while a variety of birds circled in the air over them. Some were elegant, such as the eagles, herons, and owls. Others were less welcome, including the vultures. Just as the weeds mixed with the grasses along the path, the vultures mixed with the graceful.

  Magical.

  Maybe the magic came from the sky’s azure canvas and mix of popcorn and cirrus clouds. Or maybe it had to do with the way the sun and the wind worked together to embrace the dancing leaves of the trees and sparkly waters of the ponds and gentle surrenders of the grasses. Biking wasn’t exercise to Piper, but a way for her to connect with nature and God.

  “Are you into biking?” Piper asked Bernice.

  “No, bum knees.” She showed Piper her knees, which had scars from surgery. “I’m afraid I can’t bike or do much physically.”

  She was a little heavier than Dexter and Piper felt badly about her bum knees. Biking was her favorite Florida pastime, so she appreciated having the ability to be able to ride a bike free from pain.

  In the street in front of them, six corn hole platforms provided the entertainment. The competition between the neighbors was becoming fierce, as some seasoned corn holers were showcasing their skills. Nick was one of the competitors, though he wasn’t as seasoned as some in the competition. One player was able to throw the beanbags in perfect spirals that swirled high into the air, landing in the hole just about every time. Piper predicted that she and Nick would soon be the proud owners of a corn hole platform, as Nick wasn’t one to handle sporting losses well. He would surely be practicing his skills before next year’s competition.

  From the corner of her eye, she spotted a slim man approaching with a curly red-headed woman by his side, rolling a large cooler behind him. Bob and Betty. He was wearing a raggedy t-shirt and shorts, along with a pair of snakeskin cowboy boots. Betty was also wearing a t-shirt and shorts, yet her outfit was better coordinated and newer than his.

  “Hey guys,” Bob said to Nick and Piper. “Thanks for the invite. I love corn hole! And Betty is the queen of corn hole. We play all the time at home.”

  “Excellent. This round is just about over. We’ll get you two signed up,” Nick said. “Man, it’s been a long time. How have you been?”

  “Good. Really good. Life flies by, doesn’t it?” Bob said.

  “You two don’t look like you’ve changed at all. So, what’s new? Are you still living in the same place?” Piper asked.

  “Nope. We moved over to Briar. Got a cozy little pad a few blocks from some boat docks. It’s perfect for us. It’s only two bedrooms, but we don’t have any kids so that’s not a problem. How about you?”

  “Not too many changes here.” Piper said.

  “So, do you ever see anyone from the old group? We’ve been out of touch for the past few years, though we do see Chase and Cherie.” Nick said.

  “Tragic,” Betty noted. “I feel so bad for them. Losing one baby is hard enough, but two?”

  “It’s horrible,” Bob said.

  The group paused for a while to reflect on Chase and Cherie and the horrific event they had endured.

  “We still hang out with Flypaper all the time,” Bob said. “You know Flypaper. Still catching those flies, but he’s not married yet. He’s not serious about anyone. Now, this is going to sound funny, but I think he’s holding out for Kat to come back to him. Can you believe that? I heard that she isn’t married either, so maybe it will work out for him,” Bob said.

  “Maybe,” Nick said. “Never know with fate.”

  “You guys ever meet Oren, Chase’s old friend?” Bob asked.


  “No,” Piper answered. “Thankfully.”

  “Thankfully? He’s cool, man. He’s been out with us a few times lately. I’ll tell you what, that dude knows how to party!”

  “He’s bad news,” Nick said.

  “I agree. Bad news,” Piper said, recalling the dungeon nightmare. “You should stay away from him.” Just then, she spotted the dark spirit. A single dark spirit darted out of a tree and swooped over to Bob like a snake to its prey. Piper decided that she would talk to Nick about the spirit. They needed to do something to protect their friend.

  “Didn’t you just say that you don’t know him?” Bob asked.

  “Yeah, but I know of him.”

  “You’re a good woman, Piper. I know you have a good heart. But you don’t have to worry about me.” Bob cupped his hand into the shape of the letter C. “Hey, what’s missing from my picture?”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Nick joked. “Maybe a beer?”

  “Man, you’re smart! Some things just don’t change.” Bob chuckled as he grabbed two beers from his cooler and handed one to Betty. “You guys thirsty?”

  “We’re good,” Nick said. “But you, you stay thirsty my friend.”