Zak Comes To Know The Lord

    The Murdock house was on a secluded lot on the bay side of Pensacola Beach.  Its occupants both enjoyed peace and serenity afforded by the view.  The two occupants had much in common.  Both were oversized according to the official weight and height charts, both tended to move only when they had too, and both preferred the couch to calisthenics.  Unfortunately, Angus Murdock did have to go to work most days, and on occasion take care of the front lawn.  He was thankful that the bayside was just a landing and a pier, no grass to cut.  Zakariah Persia Murdock hated being alone.  He was helpless in  the face of a full bowl of cat chow. Angus always left him with a full bowl.

    It was a late spring Saturday when Angus noticed the the front grass had not been cut for weeks.  He had noticed before, but he had chosen to believe that is did not really need cutting as yet.  This Saturday, as he observed the grass from his air conditioned living room he felt his illusion shatter.  The foot high thatch could not be denied.  "Common, Zak." he said, "Lets get this grass cut, some fresh air will do you some good."

    Zak thought, "A little sun in the cool grass might just be what I need to improve my resting skills."  In his mind he could already feel the warm sun lulling him to sleep.

    With a monumental effort he lumbered after Angus out the front door.  As Angus went to the side of the house to get the riding lawn mower, Zak wandered into the front yard through the tall grass until he found a soft dimpled area where he could curl up and return to his previously scheduled activity. 

    The riding lawn mower was a J.Deere 6900.  A major bit of overkill for a yard that had only slightly more grass than most doctor's offices.  For Angus, the J.Deere 6900 had two main benefits.  First, it was a riding lawn mower.  That was a big selling point.  Secondly, it was advertised as the quietest lawn mover ever made.  In a neighborhood that prides itself on serenity, that was a good thing.  It did not however prove to be the best thing for Zak.

    Had the lawn mower been louder, or had Zak's depression in the lawn been deeper, then the tragedy of that morning might never have happened.  As it was, Angus, who was short sighted without his thick prescription glasses had taken these off to mow the lawn. He did not believe there was any benefit to having

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Copyright - Keith Risman - Oct. 2006