Twice a week, sometimes three times, he pushed our ancient mower around the neighborhood and offered to help anyone who looked like they needed it.
I gave him rules.
No going inside strangers’ houses. Keep his phone charged. Tell me where he was going.
Within a few weeks, people knew him as the lawn kid.
At the time, those rules felt sensible enough. I never imagined the problem would be the things he didn’t mention.
He agreed.
Mostly.
Within a few weeks, people knew him as the lawn kid.
I was ridiculously proud of him.
One Thursday in August, Justin said he had one last yard to finish.