Neighbors Share the Snow Shovels

Snow covered the path outside our six houses on Monday morning. Everyone needed to reach the street, but only two neighbors owned shovels. Carla started clearing her part of the path while Dennis worked outside the house at the opposite end.

I went outside without a shovel and asked how I could help. Carla suggested brushing snow away from the steps. Two other neighbors joined us. We decided to clear one continuous path, rather than six separate pieces with snow between them.

Dennis had to leave for work after twenty minutes. He passed his shovel to me and asked me to return it by evening. Meanwhile, Carla lent hers to the next neighbor and went inside to get warm socks for herself.

Before nine, the path was clear from one end to the other. We left both shovels in their owners' porches. That evening, Dennis found a small brush beside his shovel. I had left it there for the next snowy morning.