Yesterday, finally, was the day.  And a Mother’s Day brunch provided the necessary cover.

Roger, Nikki and their kids were off at brunch (apparently) when I let myself into their back yard with a pair of time-worn Felco’s and an earthenware vase that Buzzy gave me years ago as a gift.  Kathy from across the alley offered a polite hello, but along with it, that questioning raised eyebrow that left me wondering whether it was more a look of disapproval, or chagrin, wishing she had thought of it first.  You see, we all covet the lilacs on Roger’s fine tree.

Oscar raised his head as I came through the gate, but never even bothered to get up.  Years of raw soup bones and wrestling matches, and hundreds of tasty leftovers have earned me a certain amount  license, where Oscar is concerned.

I was careful to take small cuttings here and there, mostly from within the interior of the ancient lilac tree, where no one ever cuts, so that when I left with my vase full, there was scant evidence that I had ever even been there.

I hadn’t considered the effect of mixing in the tips of golden hop vines with the lilacs until I was turning the corner into my drive, wanting to duck out of sight quickly, before getting caught red-handed by one of my neighbors in the commission of three of the seven deadly sins (greed, lust and gluttony), in one brazen act of thievery.  But the golden hop-lets called out to me, asking if a few of them might come play amongst my stolen lilacs.

It immediately seemed like a good idea, so I trimmed a half-dozen of the chartreuse runners back to the base of the telephone pole, those that would soon have wandered far enough out into the alley to get run over by a passing car anyway, and allowed them instead to spend their last several days cavorting with the deep purple-reds of a stolen mass of heaven.

A wise man once told me that it is much easier to ask forgiveness than permission. 

So, let’s see.

Roger, I have stolen some of those exquisite lilacs from you yet again.  Forgive me.

Wow!  That really was easy!