Neglect

"And here is the backyard," Mira said cheerfully. Douglas looked down at his phone. He was supposed to start a week long trial this week, and it was a bad time for it. He needed to prepare, and here he was wasting time with his father.

The back deck needed work done, and Mira had been nagging him for weeks about it. Walter stepped down on a decayed piece of wood, and the board gave way, along with Walter. It wasn't a hard fall, only about five feet, but Walter landed straight onto his back. He groaned loudly.

"Douglas, how many times have I told you about this deck!" Mira said, upset with him. She raced down the good steps, helping Walter to his feet.

"My back ... my back," Walter groaned. "Fuck, it hurts."

"It's okay, Walter, let's get you inside, and into bed, and we'll put some ice on it, okay?"

"Okay," Walter groaned. "You really need a good man around the house ..." Douglas looked at his phone again.

"I really wish I could stay, Mira, but work is piling up ..." Mira waved him off, gently escorting Douglas's father upstairs.