The Woman Who Tended the Sidewalk

When I asked her what she was doing gardening in the road, the old lady shot me a sly grin and bent down with effort to hand me a glass of lemonade. "I've gotta tend the sidewalk," she whispered. This made her proud, to know that she was the one tending to the sidewalk. Even as a little girl I thought it was odd.
"Why?" I asked, still inquisitive.
"You'll see, sweetie, you'll see."