A Favour Written in Pencil

When the new neighbour asked Dan to water her plants for a week, he was pleased to be trusted. He had lived in the building for six months without learning anyone's name. She handed him a key and a sheet of instructions written in pencil, apologising for the complicated needs of a particularly dramatic fern.

The week became three when her work assignment was extended. Dan agreed to continue, but soon the visits included collecting parcels and letting a repairman in. She thanked him warmly in messages. He replied that it was no trouble, then complained about the trouble to his brother. His own cheerful replies seemed to have locked him into an unpaid position.

On Friday, a leaking pot damaged a magazine beside the window. Dan prepared a long apology before realising he was more frightened of disappointing his neighbour than concerned about the paper. He sent a shorter message explaining the accident and saying he could help until Monday, but not beyond. For an hour, he kept checking whether she had read it.

She replied that her cousin would take over and offered to pay for his time. Dan declined payment for the original week, then accepted it for the extra work. When she returned, they had coffee in her kitchen. The fern looked terrible, but she laughed and said it always did. Dan stayed because he wanted to, leaving before the conversation became another appointment.