I saw my neighbour with his small tractor and trailer taking old furniture to the communal rubbish bin this afternoon. When he returned, I hailed him.
He stopped on the other side of the road. I stood inside my gate and told him the latest news. He could not hear me above the noise of the engine so he just turned of the ignition in the middle of the road.
A car behind him slowed down and overtook him.
It was a brief exchange. He started up his engine again and went on his way. My nostrils flared at the smell of diesel. They always do.
©2019 Allison Wright
[11o words]
five stray minutes 