But maybe.
Hope was important.
For the first ten minutes, things actually went surprisingly well.
The boys shoveled.
The wheelbarrow moved.
Nobody argued.
Nobody fell down.
I should've known it wouldn't last.
The youngest loaded the wheelbarrow with too much manure.
The oldest pointed that out.
The youngest ignored him.
The second boy laughed.
The youngest attempted to prove everyone wrong.
He pushed harder.
The wheelbarrow hit a rut.
The entire load tipped backward.
Directly onto him.
The ranch exploded.
Sadie doubled over laughing.
Hank nearly dropped his coffee.
Even I felt my mouth twitch.
The kid stood there.
Frozen.
Covered from chest to boots.
A piece of straw hung from his hat.
Nobody helped him.
Because nobody could breathe.
The laughter was too bad.
The boy pointed at us.
"This isn't funny."
