LINE MAN FOR THE COUNTY.

Under the bright midday sun, Jack the lineman climbed carefully up the weathered utility pole, his belt jingling with tools. His sturdy truck sat parked below, its bed filled with cables, spare parts, and a box of sandwiches his wife had packed that morning.

The line had been down since dawn, leaving the small countryside homes without power. Smoke curled lazily from a red cottage’s chimney nearby, the only sign of life amidst the rolling green hills. A curious bird perched on the wire a few feet away, watching Jack’s every move with a tilt of its head.

“Almost got it,” Jack muttered to himself as he tightened the final bolt. With a crackle and hum, the wires buzzed back to life. Cheers erupted from the red cottage, where two children jumped up and down in the doorway. Their mother waved enthusiastically, a kettle steaming behind her.

Jack smiled as he descended the pole, wiping sweat from his brow. He climbed into the truck, pausing to take in the peaceful landscape. The power was back, and the day was good. With a satisfied sigh, he turned the key, the engine rumbling to life as he headed to the next job, leaving the countryside bright and buzzing once again.