April Showers

I sold the soul of my garden this spring.

There’s a new Home Depot on the corner and they’re having a huge sale on garden plants, tools and furniture.

My son came by. I have custody this weekend. We decided to journey down to the Depot and buy seedlings to supplement the ones we started inside from seed with Miracle Grow soil in egg cartons.

Just as my luck would have it, and my son’s, all the regular shopping carts were claimed. Christopher and I had to settle for the huge one, designed like a race car. Christopher just loved the fact that I had to push him around like a child in a shopping cart.

Sure he’s nine now, but not too old to fall into the marketing baskets of the Home Depot.

“Over there Dad– that’s where the tomato plants are!”

“Settle down Christopher. I can only push this thing so fast. We only need a few plants. Remember- we have all those seedlings in the egg cartons to plant in our little garden.”

“Hurry-up Dad. Don’t let that woman cut us off like that!”

“That’s not nice Christopher. That’s road rage.”

“Dad, stop being such a punk, run into her!”
“Look, Christopher! There’s an empty check-out line. Let’s take these pink geraniums, white impatients, jalapeno peppers, Four O’ Clocks and basil and get the hell out of here before I spend any more money.”

“Alright Dad. Oooo.... Do you hear that ice cream truck?”

Pop Goes the Weasel echoed from somewhere in the neighborhood.

“We are not getting any ice cream. Let’s get back home and get these things planted. It was supposed to rain today, but look at that blue sky, Christopher.”

“I can carry the green watering urn and those bags, Dad.”

“Thank you Christopher.”

We rounded the corner and the ice cream man came driving down King Street.

Christopher flagged him down, ordered a double cone with chocolate ice cream and sprinkles.

I hummed Pop Goes the Weasel while planting my beautiful flowers from the Home Depot.

They only cost me $38 but the ice cream was $5.50 for a double shot of frozen milk.