The brush stuck in the tangle of her long black hair, she flung the door open. Barefooted, she pulled the trash bin to the curb while keeping a lookout for the garbage truck sure to come around the corner.

The brush forgotten, she huffed in relief; she had made it in time. As she stretched her arms, she looked to the left, then to the right.

The neighbors' driveways were empty.

Today wasn't trash day.