Thomasboro is a village strung along the rail line north of Urbana, black soil in every direction and nothing at all standing between it and the wind. Downings Lawn Care & Snow Removal takes the year in both directions there — mowing, trimming, edging and cleanups while the corn is up, then plowing, clearing walks and spreading salt when the flat country starts moving snow sideways across the roads. Out here a storm is not over when the falling stops; the wind keeps rearranging it, and the drives get run a second time. A clean apron under the headlights at six in the morning with a freight going by is the whole job, right there. In spring that same ground turns green so quickly it feels like a rumor getting out.