"Son! Tighter on your end!" Uncle Mathew orders as he raises his hammer high in the air slamming it down onto the metal pole he's holding. He swings once, then twice, and by the third strike buries the pole deep into the ground. He then wraps the rope over the pole before rushing over to the small fruit tree between us and wrapping the rest of the rope on the trunk just above the black soot-covered lightning wound. 

I grunt in confirmation, pulling my entire weight onto the rope and pole I hold. I have to keep it taunt and tight if I want the tree to stay straight. My lungs scream no matter how much I breathe, my muscles quake in tiredness almost giving out. Locking my will, I gasp, "Why couldn't we... get the... tools for... this?" 

Last night, there was this freak storm full of lightning and thunder with heavy rain and harsh winds that tore through the land. Only a few trees were harmed in the orchid. One got uprooted, several of the tallest were hit with lightning and this little tree had the misfortune of being in the wrong place. Uncle and I have been working all morning fixing the trees. This one is the last tree, and Uncle didn't want to use the machine for this. 

Uncle finishes rushing to my side holding my pole, "Keep steady," He raises his hammer, and with three swift strikes digs it into the ground. He then helps me tie up the rope finishing our last task. I lean backward against a larger tree, gasping and shaking in exhaustion.

Uncle smiles tossing me a plastic water bottle while guzzling his own down. With the tension gone, Uncle breaks out in a harsh sweat. He wipes it away with the back of his scar-covered hands, "Tools are fine, but not gentle." Brushing leaves out of his black hair, he presses his mitt-sized hands against the little tree. "With a tree this young, I don't want to stress it with the machine's power." He smiles in my direction. "Once it's big and strong we can use them." 

I squish my bottle once I'm finished, nodding. Uncle's not only wise but super amazing and strong. I can only hope my body takes after him. I want his huge hands, I want his muscles, I want his beard, I want to be just like him. I rub my beard frowning. It's not as thick as Uncles, or as nice yet. It's a miracle I have one at all, Pops has stubble and can barely grow his out past an inch. 

I reach down picking up my old leather backpack I've set to the side. It has a lot of holes and tears that I've patched up with band patches, and a few sowed golden crowns here and there. In between all the chaos are various aged black ink numbers from those I've dated or had fun with. "Auntie should have lunch ready right?" I ask, stuffing my empty bottle into my bag. 

Uncle's black eyes gleam with hunger as his stomach growls loud enough to startle the farm dogs sleeping nearby. "Yes, let's eat!" He's as eager as a horse waiting for the cage to open. We both pack up and is about to leave when there's a shout. One of the ranch hands runs towards us. 

It's Ed, an elderly man, who has worked here since my grandfather's time. He started as a teenager and never left even when his grandfather passed away, he went to my uncle and just stated he would still be working here. As soon as he gets within reach, Uncle passes him some water. Ed guzzles it down, the water falling down his long white beard. He lets out a pleased gasp, "Boss..." He takes another breath, "The fence on the East side broke, and there's trouble with the river."  

Uncle tries not to but he's pouting, his dark puppy dog eyes flickering to the house. 

"Hey, Uncle. I can handle this. I will take some photos send them to you, and fix the fence. With Ed and the others, we can finish that in half an hour, head back, and eat some well-deserved lunch."

 Uncle hesitates, I'm sure his pride and hardworking tendencies are fighting his desire to go back to Auntie. Auntie got pregnant with their first child, and he has been glued to her side. The only time he leaves her is when Auntie kicks him out to get work done. It's hilarious seeing this big man cling to his wife talking to her belly. If anything you'd think Uncle is the one pregnant. 

Ed pretends to whisper at me, "Boss man is as whipped as a cattle dog." 

I laugh with him, "Uncle, seriously. It's just a fence and photos. It won't take long, just tell Auntie we all will need three sandwiches each."

Ed declares, "Nope make that five for me. The only reason I'm still working here is for her food. That woman can cook." 

Uncle gives us both a grateful look, "Thank you." He rushes towards the house, the dogs running after him in glee. 

Ed slaps my back, "If you keep this up, you may end up owning this place." 

I blush rubbing my head, "I don't know about that." I still have no idea what I want to do, pathetic for a 23-year-old. 

"Son, you've worked here as long as I have at your age. There was a time I would have inherited this land, had your uncle not come with his lovely wife." He snorts, "For her food, I'll give her my spine." 

I snort in laughter.

Ed's right. Since I was 10 I've been helping Auntie and Uncle with the orchid here. Every summer instead of going out with friends to the movies, or hanging out at the beach I came here to earn as much money as I could. Jill my younger sister got sick when I was seven... She nearly died before she was five years old. To make ends meet our parents had to work several jobs. I became the at-home brother. Taking care of my sick sister Jill, and my baby sister Jewel. Auntie and Uncle offered to watch us during the summer and soon took in my sisters permanently. I'd travel to the city during the school year, working while studying. And once Summer came I'd head here to work on the orchard.  

I don't resent my parents. They did everything they could to take care of us, and it was hard on them with Jill and Jewel both being disabled. I had to step up as the older brother and take care of them. I still had fun, dating people, and watching the latest movies. I'd even go to conventions and markets. It's just I feel so stretched out sometimes... 

Ed asks, "How's your parents doing, son?" 

"Mom's got a promotion at one of her jobs, so she can quit her other two jobs now. Pops might be getting a better position with his crew. If so then he may also be able to quit his other jobs. Last I heard they were able to get a two-bedroom apartment. They hope that Jewel will move back in with them."

"Jewel hu, not Jill?" 

"Jill's specialty hospital is closer to the orchard than the city." I shrug, "Though I bet Jill would much prefer to be in the city." 

Ed snorts, "That girl is always tied to her screens. Ah, here we are." 

Wow! The storm did a number on the fencing. Three poles are snapped, and two toppled over taking with them all the wires in between. "Welp," I take a few snaps, "I may have underestimated the damages." 

Ed snorts, "Naw son. We can get this done all together. Just need you to put to good use your muscles and youth." He slaps my back, "I'll head on out and get Bill, Joe, and Sow." 

"Thanks, Ed," I tap my phone, "I'll head out for the River, and see what it's damaging." 

Ed frowns stroking his beard, "Let's hope not too much, last time there was a flood it wrecked Bella's farm. Took the whole community a year to fix it back up."

I hope so too. I leap over the fence and head Eastward bound toward the mountain ranges.  Uncle's land is settled in the Valley, a huge open plain area between two huge mountain ranges. Past the Eastern mountains is the largest city where Mom and Pops work and live. The Western side heads to a coastal city where Jill's specialty hospital resides. We are all working hard to move into the city, to be as close as we can. But even with all of us working we can't afford even a studio apartment. The best we can do is live in the valley, and pray she doesn't get sick during winter. 

I enter the wildest part of my uncle's land, the grass brushing against my hips. Unconsciously I give glances downwards keeping an eye out for snakes, foxholes, and other nasty surprises hidden in the sea of grass. I traverse up the last hill that overlooks the lower part of the valley where the river flows. 

It may not be the largest river alive or the fastest, but when it floods it gets large and dangerous. A few years ago, with Uncle's help a wooden dam was created to try and prevent flooding during spring and fall. The water diverted to a man-made lake. The dam is cracked with pieces of it missing, the water rushing down overfilling the banks. 

I take several photos, sending them to Uncle. I better head back and fix the fence.