Telephone Conversation 10 days ago:
Ben: “Dave, can I borrow your chainsaw this weekend?”
Me: “Sure, for what?”
Ben: “Just have to cut a few things up at the cabin. We’re goin’ up there with a bunch of people this weekend.”
Me: “What few things are you cutting in the middle of winter?”
Ben: “Are you going to be around tomorrow during the day so I could pick it up?” (smooth change of subject)
Me: In my head…Of course not, I work in the middle of every week day. “No, I’ll be at work.”
Ben: “Ok, well, I’ll just swing over and get it. Is it in the garage?” In Ben’s head…Great, he won’t be there so I won’t have to explain why I need the chainsaw.
Jessie and I are up at the cabin this weekend. There seems to be a large hole cut through the ice. Ice fishing? Unlikely, as the hole measures a straightly-cut 4’x4’. There are big fish up here, but 16 sqft seems to be a hole cut for more of a human-size creature.
Can you say “Polar Plunge"? At first glance I say fun. At second glance I see my new chainsaw in the frozen lake. Ben hasn’t returned the chainsaw yet. Perhaps it is still drying out. Oh, my little brother.