Distractions
Abner had been directed by his father to dig out and replace a rotten gatepost. He dug around it and found it was set in concrete so he would have to fire up the front-end loader to hoist it out.
The bobcat had developed a rattle so he opened the hood to see if he could fix what was loose. Hmm. Going to need a socket wrench and the wrench set was on the John Deere and the John Deere was by the creek half a mile away. He hopped on the ATV and sped off.
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En route he came upon four cows that had broken through the fence and were gorging themselves on a pile of oats that was on the ground awaiting bin space. Abner chased them back in the pasture and propped up the fence.
He buzzed on to the John Deere, got the tool kit and started back. Then he spotted the cows hustling toward the weak place in the fence.
He swung around, headed straight toward them whooping and waving his free arm. They turned and ran, but not too far.
The fence was going to need new staples, so he roared back to the farmyard shop and got the hammer, the wire tightener and a pocket full of staples. He tightened the wire and stapled it.
Then he roared into the yard with the socket wrench kit to fix the bobcat so he could pull the concrete and put in a new gatepost.
“Abner,” shouted his mother. “Dinner’s ready.”
He headed to the house to wash up.
“How are you coming with the gatepost?” asked his father.
“You really want to know?” asked Abner.
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