The Adventures of Ethel & Franklin

“Is that fool coming over any time soon?” Carla asked Ethel. “He should’ve been here by now” Ethel replied as she was getting the tools for her yard out of the shed. “Well you know he goes to church on Sundays, mother” Ethel started. “Maybe he got caught up fellowshippin’ with his church crew.” “Or maybe he’s sitting in the living room laying back comfortably in my favorite chair and listening to his music.” Carla replied.

“What makes you say that?” Ethel asked. “The fact that he’s sitting in the living room with his head back in my favorite chair and listening to his music, with his eyes closed like he’s enjoying himself might I add.” Carla continued. Ethel looked in the window from the backyard and caught a glimpse of Franklin laying back in her mother’s favorite chair as he bobbed his head to his music with his eyes closed. “Let me run in here and get this fool.” Ethel started as she charged in the house.

“Francesca!!!” Ethel called out sarcastically as Franklin’s eyes shot open. “How many times have I told you don’t be callin me Francesca?” Frank rebutted. “Well if you stopped acting like a girl and get out here and do some work I wouldn’t have to.” Ethel sneered. “But you’re a girl to, Ethel-thereal.” “Compared to you I might as well be a dude, Francesca. Now hurry up and get your butt out to the back yard so you can help mama with the yard.

Franklin got out of the chair and followed Ethel to the back yard where he was met by Carla who’s hands were filled with bags of bird seed. “Ah, there you are, Frankie.” Carla said in a cheerful tone. “Yeah I didn’t realize y’all were back here when I first pulled up to the crib.” Frank replied. “No worries. Ethel go ahead and hand him the weed wacker so he can get started.” Ethel handed Frank the weed wacker as he followed her to the side of the house where the weeds were heavily grown.

“Girl what you doin back here, growin a dispensary?” Frank asked sarcastically. “Well I thought about it, but then I realized it would be a lot of work, even though the pay out would be needed.” Ethel replied. “So what you’re gonna do here Frank is just cut everything attached to the fence and afterwards you’ll use the chainsaw to cut off some of the sticky branches.” “Sounds like a plan to me.” Frank concluded.

He then proceeded to slip on his gloves and safety glasses and began cutting away. As the weed wacker cut through the countless weeds Frank found himself smiling as he was having a good time. The weed wacker then briefly cut off as Frank hit a bigger branch. He looked back and saw Ethel staring with amusement. “What’s so funny?” He asked while dusting the weed residue off of himself. “Nothin’” Ethel replied. “You just look like you were havin a lot of fun.”

“I guess I kinda am. You were right about this being therapeutic to my anger.” “Of course I was.” Ethel replied. “Now you can start using the chainsaw. That’s where the real fun begins.” Ethel handed Frank the mini chainsaw as he looked at her with intrigue. He then started chainsawing the tougher branches while periodically looking away or closing his eyes as a whole. “Whoa whoa whoa!” Ethel called out in alarm. “What?” Frank asked as he briefly stopped sawing. “You gonna mess around cut one of your fingers off and we don’t need to be running to the emergency room.” “Chill Ethel, I got this.”

Frank continued sawing the branch until it finally fell off much to Ethel’s amusement. “Well you finally got it.” Ethel acknowledged. “I guess I can give you your man card back now. “Yes, yes you should.” Frank concluded with a smile.