The hot sun beat down over the soybean field. Mark took a brief moment to look at the pods near his feet for any disease before standing back up and returning to his truck. This one check wouldn’t really tell if there was something wrong. That would require a more in depth check throughout the field.

Inspect the whole field for anything wrong. Add it to the list.

It had been a dry Summer this year and he didn’t think the harvest would be enough to have much extra. At least Mark still had the cattle. Twenty head, currently grazing in the fenced field. Bought most of them as calves this past winter. Should be able to sell them this upcoming fall. Most of the soybean harvest might have to go to feed instead of selling.

Would have to do the math. Add it to the list.

With the warm weather as of late, cattle hadn’t been using the barn as much. They preferred the small wooded area on the south east corner of the land for it’s shade. Might be the opportunity to clean out the barn. Cattle sure won’t do it. Have to take care of the animals because they don’t take care of themselves so said Pa.

Get the bobcat, scrape the barn floor. Add it to the list.

The trucks engine started with a growl and Mark put it into gear. As he made the three point turn to head back to the farm buildings he eyed the harvester next to most of the other large outdoor equipment. If he was to do his own harvest in the coming month, that harvester would need an oil change, carb clean, and more grease for bearings.

Pretty standard maintenance that could wait for another day. Add it to the list.

Mark finished his drive in from the field and reached his house. Small thing that used to be his parents. Powder blue for his mother, from Pa. Metal roof to cut down on maintenance for his Pa, from Mark. Looks like some of the paint was flaking.

Have to head into town for paint. Add it to the list.

Heading inside to check for messages on the answering machine and to eat lunch. Mark spotted a blinking light that there was a message. Pressing play and tuning out the automated, and always wrong, time and date of the message he rooted through the fridge for sandwich fixings.

Foods low, grocery shop. Add it to the list, near the top.

The answering machine let out a high pitched beep and the voice of his neighbour came out.

“Hey Mark, it’s Patrick. I hoped you were in, but you weren’t. I’m planning on doing our wheat harvest next week and was wondering if you and your harvester would be willing to mosey on down this way to help out. Margret would be the one normally running the tractor, but you know how it is with the cast and all.

Anyways, just calling to ask for some help. Hope the cows and your soybeans are working out. I’m planning on getting to church for the fellowship so I suppose I’ll see you there and we can hash out some schedule. Otherwise give me a wave and flag me down if you see me out in the field.”

Visit Patrick, decide on a date, harvest wheat. Add it to the list.

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The sandwich wasn’t bad but there was still work to do. Washing his hands, Mark saw the slowly growing yet neatly stacked pile of dirty dishes. But he lived alone and there were plenty more clean at the moment. So he’d have to do the dishes eventually, but not today.

Dishes. Add it to the list, near the bottom.

Mark considered the list he currently had. Groceries, Inspection, Math, Barn, Paint, Maintenance, Patrick, Dishes. Not to mention the hundred other chores required to keep a farm going. Something immediate, and something a bit more involved would be next. First to make sure the cattle water trough was topped up and second to head into town for a shopping trip.

Walking out to the barn, Mark made sure to grab one of the tall sticks he kept at the fence gate between his home and the cattle area. The stick was what the cattle actually recognized when he was out there it seems. They get protective of any calves when something unknown shows up. As much as he considered himself their caretaker, the cattle never stayed long enough to get familiar with him. His farm wasn’t a dairy farm.

Stick in hand, Mark walked around to the water pipe and it’s valve. Said pipe connected to a water tower nearby which had it’s own ground water pump. There was a soft chuff chuff chuff in the air as the pump continuously pumped a tiny bit of water into the tower. Not enough for the fields, but enough for the animals and himself. Can’t take too much from the ground, wouldn’t be enough for every farmer to do that on this land.

Opening the water valve, Mark waited patiently for the water to pour out into the trough, formerly a hot water heater he had cut in half. As it was filling, He picked up a sheet of nearby plywood and covered up a good portion of the trough to help a bit with evaporation. Cattle would smell the water and be willing to push the wood out of the way, But until then no sense wasting it.

Soon enough it was full and Mark closed the valve. Looking out into the field he spotted the herd milling about as they were usually doing. Thankfully they didn’t seem agitated so there probably wasn’t anything that needed doing for them. Might have to consider keeping one for the meat. Stockyard butcher wasn’t unreasonable.

Meat grocery math. Can’t do that in the field, only the store. Muddling up the list.

Trip into town it is for sure then. Walking back to the house and leaving the stick next to the fence gate gave Mark a moment to think of a shopping list. Keys were still in his pocket so he walked to the truck directly. Getting into the drivers seat, he started the truck and pulled away from the house towards the dirt road that led to the highway.

The trip into town was it’s usual hour long affair. Highway was mostly empty but there was the occasional SUV with a top rack full of camping going the opposite direction. Seems the weekend was approaching and some people were heading out camping. Good weather for it at least. Not much time for it himself.

Town was town. Big enough that some people never left after growing up there, but not so large as to really draw in people. It was big enough to have a couple of the more big name shops. Hardware, supermarkets, even something approaching a mall if you squinted hard enough.

Mark pulled into the hardware store and started his shop. Paint for the house, Oil for the harvester, screws, nuts, bolts, and a dozen other small things for upcoming projects. Bagged, paid for, then deposited in the truck bed, He continued on to groceries.

The supermarket had seen better days, but it was the closest one on the side of town nearest Marks farm. He took his time to walk up and down the aisles. Filling a cart was relatively easy this time. He didn’t have to think about what to get as it had been a while since the last trip. Things were running low. Bagged, paid for, then deposited in the truck bed. The final in town errand.

The ride back was much nicer than the ride in. The air was finally starting to cool down a small amount. Rolling the window down, Mark was resting his arm on the door allowing him to feel the full strength of highway speed wind rushing past. The weight and worry of the day was finally behind him. A small smile finally creased his face as the only thing he had left to do was to get his things inside from the truck.

Put away the supplies and groceries. Add it to the list.

Ahead of Mark, one of the many eighteen wheelers hauling innumerable goods was approaching from the opposite direction.

A wheel comes loose.

An axle snaps.

The large truck lurches to its left into the oncoming lane.