It’s good to have a helper.

Grace, the little gardener, prunes the clematis arbor.

My other helper sits in the background, where only moments ago she checked my hair for lice, which has descended again on our house. To the back of my head Lydia said, “Dammit. White hair and white nits. I can’t find anything.”

Upstairs, staff photographer Eli is hard at work at the desk, editing and archiving photos, a few of which I hope to publish.

Someone has to wash the kitchen floor, and I think it will be me.