Deducted by a UFO’s

Deducted by a UFO’s by Gary Benton
article copyright

It was 1966 and Bubba, who was fifteen, was offered a job cutting grass for a dollar an hour. He figured it would take five hours to do the job and maybe three gallons of gas. Since gas was going for 29 cents a gallon, it would cost close to 87 cents for fuel. To his way of figuring, he’d clear over four dollars for doing the job. Of course, Billy Bob, his best friend, would help, so they’d end up with almost two dollars each. Not bad pay when most men were only making eight dollars a day.

He pushed his mower to Billy Bob’s house and an hour later, they were nearing old woman Sidwell’s farm.

As they walked, Billy Bob asked, “We doin’ the whole farm or just her front yard?”

“I ain’t sure and it don’t matter none to me either. The money is good and that’s all I need to know.”

“I don’t know about that. She must have a good ten acres of land around that house and it’ll be hot doin’s in this heat. It’ll take us all day today and tomorrow to do a job that big.”

“It don’t matter much, because it’ll give us some spending money. Besides, what else we gonna do on a day like this? It’s too hot to fish.”

“Okay, but I hope ya figured the cost of gas into all of this.”

“Did that, so relax and let’s get this job finished.”

At the farmhouse the old woman answered the door with about twenty cats seen in the background. Three old mix-breed dogs were barking in the barnyard, but didn’t come near, as Bubba asked, “Still need us to cut your grass?”

“Bubba Claremore, how are ya son?”

“Just fine Missus Stillwell and I’m here to cut your grass. Remember, you asked me Sunday, after church, to come over and do it for a dollar an hour.”

“Oh, now I remember. Sure, I want it all cut from the highway to the back fence. When you’re done let me know and I’ll pay you boys.”

Billy Bob looked at the steep slope running to the highway and knew the job would be hot and long.

Smiling, Bubba said, “Okay we’ll start in a few minutes.”

“Good, now I have to go and feed my cats. Just knock when you’re done and I’ll pay you boys.”

“Will do, and thanks for the work!”

“You’re a good boy, but remember I want an honest day’s work for the pay. You two do a good job and I’ll tell my friend about you.” She then closed the door.

“Ain’t likely she’ll remember we were here an hour after we leave,” Billy Bob complained.

“What you so sore about?”

“This is a tough job and we should be gettin’ more money than what she’ll pay us. It’ll take us at least two days to do this job.”

Pages: 1 2 3 4