Life as we know it

"I'm glad you two made up," Duffy informed Henry that even Effy was stressing out about her two best friends, Henry and Josie. "And, you know what that means? I get to be stressed out too."

Henry cracked a smile as they were both out doing yard work.

Actually, Duffy didn't think neither were much good at manicuring yards, especially when spring didn't feel like it was right around the corner. But it was the weekend and he wanted to at least make Effy think he was trying.

"You aren't so used to this family stuff, are you?" Henry told him there was no need to mow. Although, Duffy heard mowing in the distance. To Duffy, they might as well be chopping down trees.

He looked up to the bare sky on this chilly morning and noticed all the twigs in the roof drain. It was an unpleasant sight but Effy hadn't bothered him about it.

"Better call somebody about that," Henry said. "I'd hate for you to get up there and couldn't come down."

Duffy chuckled, glad that Henry was here or he might be bored.

"I used to be really good at climbing on roofs when I was kid," He was sure he could get the job done if it were warmer.

"Oh really," Henry looked at him as if that might be a challenge.

"Well, yeah, back then they thought I might join the circus or something," Duffy couldn't help but grin. He remembered how his mother would be so worried. "I was a very bad kid."

He looked up at the roof. He didn't feel so bad now. Perhaps it was love for Effy, or gravity finally got to him.