The bonnet of the car was open Propped up with a branch The oil was done Grapes were bunching on the vine It was just morning I had put on a belted coat to come outside They're tearing down the building next door she said Twisting at the cap, face down, elbow out The dew was close enough to miss her on the grass all around I held two cigarettes in two hands These are yours, I said Come away from there Am I allowed, she said to smoke with you now?
Since that day I have forged a deal with next door I had some waste to dispose of Mainly unspeakable rubble I walked up to the building site Tilting back my head Here, I said I live just here Might I suggest a trade? They said, good woman The larger the skip the more it is yours Well, I said A hot drink how about it They said We've had just about enough of those and I tipped in the stones with delight
I kept what I could for them My best conversation An infectious smile I had no work of my own at the time Nothing, they say, in the pipe No smoke No money Not a coin I lived on a thin pole I had learned to instigate connection but very little more
The demolition took less of a turn with each day that passed In one day fifty bricks were unstuck Eventually the mortar chipped off The buyer came The workers shook off their tabards and scattered When I saw the house where the house had been my mouth parted