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Show -39- leaves turning brown at this time of year? its round green nuts beginning to form?' hanging from the limbs like Christmas tree ornaments? At the far end, the Professor had planted two evergreens to block out a neighbor's house. The dropping leaves were a nuisance? particularly the live oak leaves that? even green? were stiff and tough and difficult to clean up; but the Professor liked the effect, particularly when swimming5? and he could float on his back and study the blue sky framed by the surrounding greenery. Likely as not? there would be a hawk in the sky? swirling in circles, adding movement to the otherwise static scenes And there were other birds, mostly finches and wrens, whose songs bubbled from the trees, as well as an occasional mockingbird Imitating them from a telephone pole above on the road? The Professor worked first on the sunny side of the deck; raking the leaves into small piles? then loading them in a large wicker basket? then sweeping the remaining dust and broken bits into the ivy and jasmine that grew along the fence. The unusual exertion made him sweat, and when he leaned over to fill his basket perspiration would drip onto the dry leaves. When he moved to the shady side? he became slowly aware of the slight breeze blowing between the hills from the ocean. The perspiration dried on his body?1 and his shirt felt clammy against his skin? Increasingly more uncomfortable? he worked quickly to finish this part of his Job, finally carrying the basket? by now full? out of the pool area and depositing it |