He saw her…didn’t think much…a tall blonde with a little weight on her…middle aged…raking leaves in her front yard…he wondered why she didn’t have a man doing that for her…he wondered…

Maybe like so many middle aged people he knew…himself included…she and the hubby might’ve went splitsville…he watched her…she had her hair pulled back in a ponytail…she wore glasses that made her look like a librarian…and she had good form in raking the leaves…put her hips into it…he just sat there in his Sedan watching…smoking a cigarette and watching…

She made him think of his ex-wife…she liked to rake leaves too…he used to help her bag all of em…the browns and golds…rust colored ones and firey orange ones every Fall…they would get done and go inside to warm themselves with blankets as old jazz played on a turntable…nothing lasts forever…

This woman…raking leaves…does she know the allure she has…,he thought…,is she aware….I wonder if her husband ever told her so…

And…sure enough…a tall man…well built…came out and began to help her bag the leaves…they kissed…they laughed…it was like old times…