Nana lived in a small cottage at the end of the main roadway. She was aged about sixty-five years old and was such a sweet, old lady. One day she was out in the garden when a young lad came along and seeing her there weeding; he asked her if he could help with anything.
Nana turned around and greeted him and said that she could sure use some help with loading the leaves onto the wheelbarrow. Troy began to rake the leaves and piling them into the barrow and Nan told him that they had to be wet down and then spread onto the garden. He was happy that he could help her in this way. He was on his own and didn't have anyone that he could relate to. His Mother and Father were both dead. As were his Grandparents on both sides. He had been an only child and so didn't have any siblings to turn to. He felt comfortable helping the old lady.
After working about 3hours in the middle of the day, Nana stood up and told Troy to come inside for a cold drink. They both wiped their shoes at the kitchen door and she led him into the house. Nana told him to sit down and she went to the refrigerator and got them both a long glass of home made Lemonade. Troy swallowed his in one gulp and Nana poured him another. He thanked her and said that he should get going.
"Is there anything else I can help you with before I leave?" Troy asked.
Nana told him that she was going to knock off gardening now, but if he would like to come around one other day, he could maybe help her with some tree lopping.
Troy told her that he had a TAFE course for the next day, but he could come the following day.
He was doing a Mechanic's Course at TAFE. He wanted to finish that and then become a Diesel Mechanic. He had another year to go before he finished.
Now Troy was about twenty-one years old, stood about 6'1" and was of an athletic build. He had dark brown hair and velvety brown eyes. His skin was tanned and he dressed well but not expensively. He probably got most of his clothes at the Good Samaritan Stores. Everything was looked after and in good condition.
Troy arrived at about 8am on the day he had promised to come. Nana was already up and ready for him. She had breakfast for him. She wasn't sure, but she felt that he didn't have any extra money and didn't get to eat enough.
He asked her if he could change his clothes into some working gear. Nana showed him where the second bedroom was. He came out about 10 minutes later, in overalls.
Nana took him outside to where she had already marked the trees that she wanted to cut down. Troy took the electric saw and began to saw through the trunks. He advised Nana to keep back so that if one of the branches came down, she wouldn't be hit.
He worked hard for a full three hours and by then had cut down 2 of the trees. There were still a couple to tackle.
Nana said that they had better have some lunch before any more work was done. Troy switched off the saw and laid it on the ground. He covered it with a tarpaulin so that no one would trip over it.
"You're a very sensible boy Troy," exclaimed Nana.
"Well Nana, we learn at TAFE about making sure that all tools are used and kept safely."
They both went into the kitchen. Nana had already prepared a salad for their lunch. She served it with a large jug of Lemonade again. Troy congratulated her on the drink.
"I don't think I have ever tasted a Lemonade like that before," he complimented her.
Nana smiled and added, "Well, I have been making it for many years, so over time I have got it down to a fine art. There is a special ingredient in it; which I won't tell to anyone."
"Oh well, I suppose we had better get back to cutting down trees."
Troy helped her pick up the dishes and put them into the sink. He ran the water over them and went ahead and washed them. Nana was amazed. She didn't really expect this from him.
They both went back into the yard and continued to cut down the other two trees. Troy then gathered up all the branches, and the trunks, which had been cut to fit into Nana's fireplace for winter. The branches were loaded into a Dumpster for removal and Troy looked round the yard and decided that he had everything under control.
It was then about 4.30pm. He had a class at TAFE that night. He asked Nana if he could possibly take a shower and change while he was there. It would save him going home and he could leave from there to go to School.
Nana was so pleased with all the work that he had done, she told him that she was also going to cook him dinner.
"So you go and have your shower, sweetie. In the meantime, I will get something to eat. It will ready for you when you finish."
Troy went up to the bathroom and proceeded to have his shower and get dressed into his better clothes. He dropped his overalls on the floor and forgot them, in his rush.
He came into the kitchen where Nana was setting the table. She told him to sit down and bought out a large casserole dish of a Hungarian Goulash. She must have had this in mind earlier, as that was not a dish that was cooked in fifteen or twenty minutes.
"Now Troy, you have been working so hard all day, I think that you should have a good feed before going to do any study."
They spoke together throughout the meal, learning more about each other. Nana learned that Troy lived in Bed and Breakfast accommodation on the other side of town. He didn't have any relatives and was a loner. Troy learned that Nana was a widow and had been alone for about 20 years. She had no children and was in the same situation as he was. She didn't have any relatives left and all her friends had since passed on. She was also a loner.
By the time the meal had finished they were both much more comfortable with each other. Troy told her that he had to go or he would be late.
Nana asked him to call around at any time. Not to work but to keep her company. He agreed that he would love to do so.
Two days later. Troy called in to see Nana. She was in bed, and not feeling very well. Troy wanted to know what he could do for her. "There isn't much Troy, I am just getting old."