A OUR GARDNER

 So his name is..... well let's just say it starts with the letter A.

I first met him when my daughter moved into her new premises and A was the gardener.

Short, of slight build and a million watt smile is how I would describe him. I would also add - rather talkative and a tad boastful of his accomplishments on the gardening front.  Also very simple .

My son in law and daughter seemed wonderstruck after he explained as to what  he had  planned for their garden.

I didn't need any further persuasion and without so much as a little digging into his ' previous work experience' I appointed him too.

To be fair, my daughter and son in law's garden is pretty good.

You can read those last two words together or separately. 

Our little garden is another story. 

It's green; it's clean; and quite tidy.

However here is where my story takes a tiny bend.

Bear with me folks. If you've read till here then you must read on.

A digs when in the mood.

A plants when in the mood

A tends to the garden six days a week

But I don't believe A is a Gardner.

I am laying it bare for you to be the better judge.

If he is a Gardner- then I am an astronout.

He has a large blower with which he keeps the place clean. He spends about 7 minutes from the time he enters till he leaves. 

He hates my brother in law and probably gets irritated when told that he is not doing a good job.

My wife interacts with him more than me. She gives him fruit, biscuits and sweets etc as he looks malnourished. 

My interactions are only to pay him his salary and tell him occasionally that the garden does not look up to the mark. 

Mind you , he doesn't switch off the blower when I talk to him , so I doubt he hears what I am saying , because while I am speaking , he is smiling and nodding.

When I go to pay him , he first pretends not to see me . Then when he does , he makes a sign to say ' put it on the garden table'.

I have threatened all and sundry that I will get rid of him , but that day has not come. A leads a charmed life I guess.

This morning he nearly lost his job.

I saw him entering, so went out to ask him why he hadn't brought the new plants I had asked him to.

I did this before he put on that noisy blower. 

He pointed to some miniscule plants and I almost exploded.

I then reminded him about what I wanted- the same plants he had bought for my daughter. He promised to do so.

Then came the icing on the cake.

He moved towards the tap.  

I couldn't fathom what he was doing .

(It has rained heavily for most of the night)

A connected the pipe and began watering the plants. 

I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

I walked out to confront him.

However I didn't have the heart to tell him he was being foolish and just stood transfixed as he watered every plant . 

He gave them an extra dousing to prove to me he was doing his job .

Poor plants.

Poor me

God bless A!