Anna voted yes.
Three years later, some commitments held.
Some weakened.
She stayed through transition.
Then left.
Was sale correct?
Sometimes.
Wrong in parts.
Like most serious decisions.
At forty-two, Anna returned to the agricultural education center with her own daughter, Lily.
Lily was eight.
She hated engines.
Loved animals.
Anna did not mind.
They stood beside Farmall.
Lily looked bored.
“That’s the tractor?”
“Yes.”
“The famous one?”
“Locally famous.”
“Can we see calves?”
“Soon.”
Anna turned steering wheel.
Same play.
She smiled.
Lily sighed.
“Mom.”
“What?”
“You’re being weird.”
“Yes.”
A guide approached.
Different person.
Young.
He did not recognize Anna.
“Want to hear story?”
Lily said:
“No.”
Anna laughed.
“Please tell us.”
Guide began.
Eleven-year-old Clara.
Dealer.
Farm.
Tractor.
Anna listened differently than at eleven.
When the guide said Mercer had been cruel, Anna felt no thrill.
When tractor started, she still smiled.
When guide explained farm later sold, Lily finally paid attention.
“So she lost?”
The guide answered:
“No.”
Lily frowned.
“She didn’t keep farm.”
Anna crouched beside daughter.
“Keeping isn’t only kind of winning.”
Lily thought.
“Did she want to sell?”
“Later family did.”
“So okay.”
“Yes.”
Lily shrugged.
“Can we see calves now?”
Anna laughed.
“Yes.”
They left tractor.
No sacred moment required.
At forty-seven, Anna’s father died.
Cancer.
Six months from diagnosis to funeral.
Faster than anyone emotionally accepted.
Anna spent final weeks back in Nebraska.
Mark remained himself.
Annoying.
Practical.
Concerned about electrical panel labels in house.
Three days before death he asked Anna:
“What are you going to do with workshop?”
She stared.
“You're alive.”
“For now.”
“Dad.”
“Answer.”
“Sell tools maybe.”
“Keep what you want.”
“You should take meter.”
“I have meters.”
“This is a good meter.”
“I know.”
“Take it.”
“Fine.”
He smiled.
Then:
“Don’t keep all junk because it was mine.”
“I know.”
“Your mother will.”
Anna’s mother from doorway:
“I can hear you.”
“Good.”
After funeral, Anna entered workshop alone.
Tools.