LETTER 69
The Kindling
A fictional letter from Management.
Written
Our tomato plant had grown above its stake. Management went out to find it another one.
Ada was clearing the offcuts from her shed.
“For the stove,” she said.
We offered to carry them in.
There were two long, thin strips among them. One was straight and clear; the other had a knot halfway up. We put the clear one beside our coat.
Ada filled the basket with the short pieces.
She pointed to the strip.
“Shall I break that one up too?”
“Yes,” we said.
She rested it across her knee.
“Hold this end.”
We held it.
She broke the strip in two and laid both pieces on the basket. We carried it inside.
Back in the shed, we picked up the other strip.
We pushed it into the pot, turned the knot towards the wall and tied up the tomato.
Management