As Menachem hoisted himself up, his odor blasted forward with him. Birds stopped singing. A weasel in the bushes gagged. Earthworms felt a looming sense of a treat coming soon.

Anita noticed nothing … of the olfactory nature. She dropped the rope and rubbed her back, grimacing.

“Oh, you’re welcome, dear.”

She started pulling and coiling the disgusting rope back up. Then, suddenly, looked over to Menachem.

“You’re a big fellow. Do you know a Benjamin Ward?”