Summer

            I didn’t understand a lot of Stuart’s handouts he gave me but I found a couple helpful.  One had a simple diagram of what a backyard well should look like and a list of tools I needed.  For tools, I knew the first place to look: my grandparent’s shed.  It was at the back of their property behind the garage and fairly hidden from the growth of trees.  There was an old alley that was hardly accessed on the other side of the fence which opened up to some undeveloped area on the other side.  We always referred to this as “grandma’s desert” and I used to play there when I was younger.  I could drive down the alley and park my truck, and climb over the old chain link fence to get to the shed.  That way, I could avoid both my grandma and my mom who lived with her and wouldn’t have to explain to anyone why I was interested in the shed.  Or get a fresh round of mocking. I assumed my grandma hadn’t been to this side of her property since grandpa died.  The lock was rusted so I picked up a large rock and broke it.  As I was rummaging through what was left of tools, I realized this would make an excellent cover for a well.  On my first visit, I tore up the floor and threw any unnecessary tools into the back of my truck to make room inside the shed that was about to become a well.