Carl phoned me once more. Carl calls quite a bit. Someone should plunder that guy's telephone. He says "Howdy." He says that followed by complete silence. With Carl a pattern has formed.

I bought a house in Carl's neighborhood a couple years ago. Everyone knows one another and Carl believes this communion, this happenstance proximity gives him permission to take over communication like he's the most affable Mussolini ever.

Filling in the dead space I asking why he had called. Carl tells me to come by so he could show me something. Ok, Carl, following an exhaustive list of excuses. Carl was great at this. If he is great at one thing, that thing is unfurling

His house is about as noisy as Carl's temperament. As I approach I recall that his lawn always features seasonal decorations. Winter is just ending and so what is on display? A giant, decorative rabbit. Gaudy, swaying, it greets me as I approach his porch. The best neighbor ever opens the door before I can knock. Grasping my elbow he leads me past his porch awning. Carl stares upward. I follow his lead. I wonder why. Things aren't looking up.

"Can you see that?" he asks. No. "I installed a gutter cover." Fantastic. "I love it". That seamless cover keeps garbage from blocking water flow, which reduces how often I must clean it." And he, for once, had something worthwhile.