broken fence

She went into her backyard and her fence was down. All the slats fell down like soldiers defeated by the opposition. She  shares this fence with her neighbours and it might snow in July before they decide this might be something to fix.

She  called a boy she likes and asked if he might help her – needing a second set of hands. Originally he said ok joking a bit about the payment she would give him but on the day he asked her a few questions that made her realize his heart was not in it. The fence, at least, she means. She said cheerfully-‘forget it, I can do it myself’. But somehow it made her sad staring at this undefended border.  She dreamt that night that she woke up to it fixed by this friend- her romantic side had climbed in beside her while she slept.

It troubled her to see those soldiers lying flat and knowing she needed two sets of reliable hands but only had one.