No time turned into two hours. Both women were exhausted as they stretched out on rubber mats under the Judas tree while Anthony continued the job they had started. “I’m going to give him a raise,” Lola chirped. “I’ll give you one, too, if you want it.”

“Shut up, Lola. Can’t you see I’m dying here? If I’m dying, what good is a raise? Don’t talk to me, and the next time you get one of your brilliant ideas, forget you know me.”

“You really are a curmudgeon. Have you noticed that you’re the only one complaining? This is the tree that’s cursed? Maybe we should move somewhere else,” Lola said, looking up at the colorful Judas tree.

Mandy sat up. “Why is this tree cursed? You didn’t say anything before about this place being cursed.”

“Oh, a dozen or so people hanged themselves here. The story goes someone is buried under the tree. Then there’s another story that went around back when I was a teenager that a young girl gave birth under the tree and the baby was a stillbirth. Somebody else said there were druids here. There probably isn’t an ounce of truth in any of it. Parents just wanted to keep their kids away from here because of the pond and the fear that they might fall in and drown.”

“I wish you hadn’t told me that, Lola.”

“Then why did you ask me?”

“Ladies, I’m done. How does it look?” Anthony called from the bottom of the embankment.

Both women cupped their hands around their eyes to ward off the sun. “Absolutely beautiful, Anthony. You do good work. How would you suggest we get down there, Anthony?” Lola called cheerily.

“I’ve got that figured out, too. See that strip of fencing? Sit on it and slide. You can both fit on it. It will be like sled riding. I couldn’t cut the weeds all the way to the root, so it will slide easily. I can come up there and guide you down if you’re afraid.”

“For heaven’s sake, I think we can manage to sit down and slide. Don’t look at me like that, Mandy. It’s my ass, and it’s just as skinny as yours is. We aren’t going to whiz down, we’re going to glide down. If you’re afraid, I’ll hold your hand.”

“Shut up, Lola. Just shut up right this minute. I’m not afraid for myself. I’m afraid for you. All right, all right, sit down.”

“Will you please try to have some fun with this, Mandy. When was the last time we ever did anything more than go out to eat? All we do is sit around watching television. Or we fight just to get a rise out of one another. Push with your feet and yell, wheeeeee!”

“Now, wasn’t that fun, ladies?” Anthony asked, cackling, when they hit the bottom to land at his feet.

“I think that was more exciting than the night I married my sixth husband.”

“And what was he into?” Mandy whispered.