Just Leaf It!

From Mia Cope

You wouldn’t think that Abilene, Texas would have many large scale enterprises. But indeed it does. There’s the Great Lakes Cheese factory, the Stargate AI Data Center, and Daddy’s Leaf Acquisition, Detainment, Distribution, and Yardcraft (LADDY) Services.

I know what you are thinking. When you visualize Abilene, it’s not hard to comprehend a huge cheese factory or the world’s largest Artificial Intelligence data center being located here. After all, what says “Abilene” better than congealed milk products and unnatural thinking?

But a successful business based on leaves? That’s a little far fetched. Daddy would hasten to tell you that his LADDY Services is more of a cottage industry and a limited sole proprietorship. In fact, it’s only client is Casa de Togo. And Daddy is its only employee.

Although, I do supervise LADDY since, as General Manager of the Casa, I approve all invoices for payment. My job is easy since supervision is just watching Daddy and that is something I do anyway. In addition, Daddy is the Grounds and Maintenance department here and picking up leaves is a regular part of his job. So, I’ve simply filed all of the invoices from LADDY into Daddy’s personnel file without paying them.

I do take an interest in the work because the management of leaves does improve the appearance of Casa de Togo. Many days out of the year, it’s not a big deal.

Other times the task takes on added importance and requires heightened oversight.

Plus, the old hide-the-leaf-while-Daddy’s-sweeping gag never grows old.

Perhaps I’m not giving this activity or Daddy’s efforts the credit they deserve. You see, in the early days of Casa de Togo, the leaf problem was much more serious.¹ Leaves were scattered sporadically across the property. Only when Togo, the previous General Manager, realized the size of the problem did the momentum begin to shift in favor of responsible leaf management.

Togo surveys the leaf problem.

Being a dog of action, Togo sounded the alarm.

Togo calling attention to the leaf crisis.

That, along with a lot of begging and pleading from Momma, led to the formation of LADDY services. Thanks to the concerted efforts of Togo and Momma, you’ll now find Daddy plying his trade with broom or rake in hand almost every day of leaf season.

And for that, I’m eternally grateful. That and for this great video of Togo in his younger days when Momma was in charge of leaf control.

(Oh, and don’t try this at home. Togo was a trained stunt dog on a closed course.)

Winter is now upon us. Enjoy your holidays. And responsibly dispose of your leaves!

1. That, in large part, was because Daddy was still working a second job that took him away from the Casa eight to ten hours a day, five days a week.