Frondal attack

I took a little break from reading on the porch for lunch, and when I came out and sat back down, I heard a scuffling in the garden between our house and the Clarks'.

I looked down, and there were huge fronds on the driveway.

Arthur's cutting 'em back, I thought, and then looked up.

A ponytailed guy was in the tree, definitely not Arthur, sawing away. . . .

Can I ask what you're doing?

"Six months ago the lady said I could cut it," the man said, slurring. Probably a hat-weaving panhandler harvesting raw materials.

What lady?

"White hair, thin lady."

Frankie Mae sometimes wears a reddish wig, sometimes a black one; she's not white-haired underneath. And she's definitely not thin.

"Sorry, man," the ponytail said, climbing down and staggering off.

I had to get the pole saw out to lop the branches he'd left dangling.