Peaches ran to get the Pirate, who came bearing an axe. He started chopping some of the larger branches away from the trunk in preparation for attacking the trunk itself, but the neighbors came out with their chainsaw, making the work go even more quickly. Clearing away the 12"-diameter tree (which had a smaller, 3"-diameter tree twined around it) away took less than 15 minutes. The man wielding the Chainsaw of Salvation is the one whose dog had eaten my chickens, and he said that he was going to get me new ones, but I told him there was no need. He's a nice man, and I know that he feels bad, but any debt that he owed me has been paid with the removal of that tree. Another neighbor invited us to the candlelight vigil being held in town to protest the racist events that have recently taken place. We said we'd surely be there (although I will be out of town). It was nice to stand and talk to our neighbors while we all cleared away this tree.
I lost some chickens but gained some love and respect for my neighbors. A small price to pay, surely.
