Fitness and foolish stubborness combined for an awakening in a predawn beach walk run
Different Dreams
Chapter 33
The educated hippie Carol needed 1979
Don’t let it be forgot,
that for one brief, shining moment there was Camelot -
-- Jackie Kennedy (creating the Camelot myth) Richard Burton Original Cast Recording
Different Dreams
Ruth saw the Fiat come rolling in the driveway. A really weird little car in her opinion. Professor Capuano had become a frequent visitor over the past couple of months. He had much to offer in advice but was little help in weeding. He kept sweat and dirt away from his stylishness. Carol was loving his visits. He was charming and funny. He had that education background to discuss topics on Carol’s level. She and JB were happy being married. The best life for two years and an additional blessing would happen soon. If the college man made Carol happy, she wouldn’t insult his silly little car. Ruth finished with the horses and headed over to a sweet corn patch. The coons always knew when it was ready to pick. Those furry bandits could destroy a crop. God must have put masks on them to let everyone know what clever little thieves they were. Tall varieties and planting in large fields seemed a better insurance than fences and electric wires which they often evaded.
“Hello, Ruth how are you this morning, and how is the baby doing.?”
“Morning Professor Steve, doctor says everything is normal.”
“Where is Carol, the publisher wants to release my book as an illustrated version with photos from the farm. I think it would be good publicity for Parkers.”
“Could be, could help get our story out. Carol and Lizzie are picking berries behind the market before the birds and coons get too many of them.”
“Have you tried scarecrows?”
“They work for a day then the birds perch on them as they eat the berries.”
“We need to design animatronic guardians.”
“What?”
“Robots, mechanical men”
“I wouldn’t trust them most likely squash things. Have enough trouble with the teenagers.”
“Ruth you are bound to traditionalism.”
“Professor Steve I am in favor of what works, and we can afford to do.”
“See you later, Ruth”
-
“My Carol what a fine morning, you look lovely even in the midst of your war with the roses so to speak. Those thorns look nasty.”
“You develop a skill for not getting scratched too often. Lizzie is remarkably nimble at this.”
“I done heaps of berrying back in Tennessee. Uncle Ned turned some into wine. He also sold a berry flavored moonshine.”
“Was that legal?”
“Weren’t nobody saying it was wrong, if you was careful about it.”
“Fascinating, Carol I need to talk with you about a wonderful opportunity we have. Can you come up to the market where we can discuss it?”
“Lizzie and I will be done here in less than an hour. We can then, but why not lay out the opportunity while picking. There’s a bucket by the hand cart just be careful.”
Stephen Capuano began picking slowly he saw thorns everywhere and the berries could be back in very thick briars, plus they stained his hands. “OK the publisher of my book wants to release a new illustrated edition with photos from your farm. They will send a professional out to do a photo shoot and then feature Parker Produce and Fruit in the new edition of the Bountiful Earth.”
“This could be good is it costing me anything?”
“No, they are paying for everything and offering you the use of any photos for you own promotions and brochures.”
“Sounds like a benefit to our farm and cost the inconvenience of a photographer. How long and when would this invasion happen?”
“Zeph would come next week. He would like to stay at your house for three nights, be here part of four or five days. He said he wants to get into the rhythm of your life and allow for a day with off weather. He would like to come here Thursday and leave on Sunday.”
“Ok Lizzie sounds like we will have company next week. I think we are done here for now. Ruth can help you arrange things at the market. I’ll go get dinner together, then you and Ruth can trade coming up for dinner. I will read through the proposal after dinner; I won’t be helping you for a while.”
“The rhythm of our life, huh. We get up early because it is cooler, we eat dinner because that’s how it is done here, then we water in the evening because it is the most effective. Our rhythms are dictated by what needs doing. Steve are you partaking of our peasant food? I am making cornbread and we are having beans.”
“I am completely aligned with the proletariat. I do love cornbread.”
“Lizzie, if it is slow, come to dinner together. People leave their money in the box.”
“They do, but they buy more if Ruth or I are here to chat them up.”
“You two decide, it should be ready about 12:30.”
-
“There’s cornbread and beans left if you want to take them home. JB I know seems to love my cornbread. It is just out of those little boxes. I will put them in the refrigerator. if I agree with the terms, I will talk to you about the photo shoot. See you later.”
“OK Stephen, now I am going to read through this, I will ask when I have questions. Don’t be like Lizzie, don’t chat me up.”
“I will have a glass of wine and contemplate a vow of silence.”
“Good you do just that.”
“I’ve finished it seems good. It clearly states my farm and your book were independently created and separate. The photos do not represent practices advocated in the book. The activities photographed are taken at Parker Produce and Fruit a farmer owned operation, it gives location and date. We have the right to reprint any photograph, but not manipulate it with out permission. It seems we may gain some promotion from it. I am clearly designated not to have a financial liability beyond cooperating with the photographer. Is Zeph? A decent guy to work with?”
“He is good and tries to stay invisible.”
“He won’t be invisible, but I do think it is beneficial for us. I will sign the agreement.”
“There are several copies if you will sign and date them, you can keep yours and I will return the others.”
“OK I should get back to work, if we are going to be props for a photographer next week.”
“We could seal our agreement with an intimate kiss, I don’t think Ruth and Lizzie will miss you for maybe another thirty minutes. “
“Thirty minutes is a long kiss; I believe you are suggesting something more intimate than that. The farm can afford to lose thirty minutes today, follow me upstairs. Not loud enough to scare the horses please.”
photo by Bakawi on Flickr
