Native Gardens 11

I hurried home the moment you called me.

And then the officials. They came. They came.

Where are all the fence workers?

Paula, a stop order from the D.C. government is a STOP ORDER. I had to send them home.

Frank said he knew people.

They came, with their little tablet and little pen and looked over everything and they slapped a big yellow sign on my tree. It’s code.

How did we break code?

Our fence is six feet and one inch. It should only be six feet. We are on the wrong inch of the law!

But it’s not even up! It’s not even a fence yet.

Apparently, the inspector established that wood had a “specific intent” of becoming a fence.

God, I hate the law.

How they got the D.C. inspector here so fast is beyond me.

GSA!

Such a home-field advantage. They were just looking for a reason to stop us. And they did. So there is a stop order. And a huge $2,000 fine.

Bastards!

The barbecue is tomorrow.

I’m going to have to cancel. I’m going to have to go back and tell everyone that it’s off.

Paula. You can’t.

The only thing that looks good in our lawn is Frank’s friggin flower bed. We are doomed.

Don’t talk like that, Paula.

I have to look reality in the eye. There will never be Smith, Krause, Wilson, and Del Valle.

Shut up, Paula. And stop talking nonsense.

We’ve lost.

No!

No. Let the judges see what we are up against. It will build good will.

We just haven’t had a chance to win…but we will. We will.

I can’t bear to think of it.

Paula, where is the woman who was sixth in her class? Where is the woman who stood up to her father and demanded to marry the woman she loves? You are telling me that Frank and Virginia are bigger and stronger than you?

Hell no. You’re right.

Justice is on our side. So we have a stop order. Time for you to start writing and documenting a defense.

No. Let me see your hands.

My puffy pregnant hands?

I’m not a contractor. I’m just a woman…on my property, tilling my own land.

Surely, that’s not a crime. Even in D.C.

Tough is my middle name.

Let’s build our own fence…between us…and the imperialist gardens beyond. We will not stand down.