Chapter 3: Big Ben, County Star

But before I could say anything, I saw a group of kids trailing after Big Ben, clapping and cheering. Their faces were full of awe.

“Dude, Big Ben’s a beast! He could mow down the whole football field in an hour!”

“He’s the coolest legend in the world!”

Big Ben puffed himself up even more, working harder and strutting around like he owned the place. He soaked up the attention like a grand marshal at the Fourth of July parade. The kids practically danced around him, phones out, snapping photos for TikTok, their laughter ringing out across the yard.

I shook my head. My poor daylilies—there’s no saving them now.

I sighed, wishing for a moment of quiet, maybe just the soft chirp of crickets instead of this circus.