Arthur grew far more courgettes than he could eat, so he left them outside for the neighbours.
Soon they stopped taking them. He tried recipes, gift bags and doorstep deliveries.
His wife suggested a tip jar.
By evening, somebody had left twenty pounds inside.
Arthur was delighted-until he unfolded the note that came with it….
Arthur planted twelve courgette plants because the packet said they were easy to grow.
His wife, Jean, asked whether twelve might be too many.
Some might fail, he said.
None did.
By July, courgettes filled the kitchen basket, the bottom drawer of the fridge and a box that had previously held Christmas decorations.
Jean made soup.
Then she made more soup.
Arthur suggested trying them roasted.
Jean said she was willing to try them in somebody else’s house.
He put a basket beside the front gate with a sign saying FREE COURGETTES.
On the first morning, four disappeared.
On the second, two.
On the third, someone left three more.
Arthur blamed the sign.
He changed it to FRESH HOME-GROWN COURGETTES.
The basket remained full.
His neighbour, Pat, came past with her shopping.
Arthur offered her a large one.
I’ve still got the last one, she said.
They keep very well.
I know.
He began giving people recipe cards.
Pat received instructions for soup. Dennis at number six got a recipe for fritters. The postman got a courgette and a rubber band to hold the card on.
Arthur said he was helping people try new things.
Jean said he was making people take the long way round to the shops.
He tried leaving small bags on doorsteps.
The next day, three bags came back. One contained a thank-you card and a courgette Arthur did not recognise.
Then he made a cake using grated courgette.
Jean said it tasted very nice.
Arthur brightened.
I could give slices to everyone.
Tell them what’s in it first.
That seems a bit unnecessary.
It’s become necessary on this street.
By August, Arthur was taking vegetables out before breakfast so he could catch people leaving for work.
Jean found him waiting behind the gate with two bags.
You look like you’re serving court papers.
Nobody appreciates what goes into growing these.
Perhaps put out a tip jar.
Would people pay?
They might.
Arthur washed an old jam jar and made another sign.
HELP YOURSELF. TIPS WELCOME.
He checked it twice before lunch.
Nothing.
At five, he went outside to bring in the basket. There were still seven courgettes in it.
But the jar held a twenty-pound note.
Arthur called Jean.
Twenty pounds! Somebody understands the effort.
Jean pointed out that there was a folded message as well.
Arthur opened it.
It was from Pat, Dennis, the postman and several other neighbours.
He smiled as he read the first line thanking him for his hard work.
Then he reached their request.
Please spend this on fewer seeds next year.
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