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Hud snipped it, and the rest of the cane fell. “It’s so violent. And wasteful. I mean, what about those other buds? Won’t they grow grapes?”
“Yes, but they’ll be small and won’t produce much fruit. It’s a good metaphor for life. Less is more.” He winked. “On to the next one.”
He pointed to a spur with two canes. “In this case, you have two canes—we want to choose the healthier of the two.”
“How do you know which one is healthier?”
“The one whose buds are closer to the cordon, or the main vine.”
Hud cut the smaller cane. Then he found the two buds and cut the cane above them.
“That’s it.” Garrett picked up the longer clipper, the one he held on his belt, and lopped off a nub. “That’s an old arm that never produced fruit.”
“Gardening is a brutal business.”
“Gardening, like football, is life, son.” He patted Hudson on the shoulder. “Keep going.” He tromped away.
“Where are you going?”
“To get another pair of clippers.”
“Are you sure I’m ready?”
“Yep.”
Hudson turned to the vine, found the next cane, counted, snipped.
Please, let him not be killing the vineyard.
But when Garrett returned, his clippers in hand, he inspected Hud’s work and offered him a thumbs-up. Then he went to the next row and started pruning.
Hud thought he heard humming.
He finished the row, then picked up all the discarded canes. Dropped them in a wheelbarrow at the end of the row. He then went behind Garrett and picked up his discarded canes.
The sun had found its way between the trees, casting an ethereal glow upon the field as Garrett dropped his clippers and the lopper into the wheelbarrow. “I’ll bet those jalapeño poppers are about done.”
“That’s all for today?”
“It’s a lot of field. Take it one day at a time. By spring it’ll be done. But I appreciate the help.”
“Funny that the guys aren’t out here.”
“Yep.” Garrett pushed the wheelbarrow toward the barn.
Hudson caught up to him. “I got that, sir.”
Garrett looked at him, then set down the wheelbarrow. “Okay. I consent.”
Hudson picked up the wheelbarrow as Garrett turned and headed to the house.
Consent to what?
“Don’t forget to lock the barn when you come in.”
Huh.
He emptied the canes, then left the wheelbarrow in the barn and headed inside.
