Leaning in the shade of the doorway to the back yard, her back to the grimy floor and a sinkful of dishes, she casually glances at the small saw kerf on top of that rotten limb as she takes one last drag and flicks the butt toward her deadly nightshade.

Stephen Tilden now finds his back yard too shady for gardening.

Editor’s Note: Stephen wrote this story as a response to Tim Boiteau’s April contribution, Widowmaker.