Pick'n Season

 Eight Short Stories

Set in a Tasmanian Apple Orchard

GP Mills

Abe

Pick’n Season is an exploration of style. After writing the novel, Dance me, I was puffed with all the ‘she saids’, ‘he pondered’, ‘she exclaimed’. I wanted to try to write a story where there was none of that and little guide as to who was saying what except the context.

I hope you enjoy my experiment.

Abraham, Abe to his mates - tall, lanky bastard like Abe Lincoln they’d say - reached up and cradled the shiraz grapes in his hand, feeling the lush fecundity of the bursting fruit and the weight of their ripeness. He carefully and neatly snipped the stem, lifting the bunch to the sun and gazed into its very essence: a cathedral of purples, duns and hints of fire; bringing together God and nature.

Beautiful, isn’t it? this will be a good harvest. Abraham held the grapes to his face and inhaled the rich and complex aromas of the fruit: treacle, clover, rose water and in the background, faintly, a hint of mandarin.

Abraham’s father, Solomon, reached over and deftly picked one of the grapes and popped it into his mouth, after chewing it appreciatively, he spat the seed onto the grass beneath the trellis.

Better give this a mow.

Abraham nodded.

Haven’t seen many snakes this spring

No, it’s been a bit cool. Still, best to keep it mown.

I’ll get on to it this afternoon.

The apples are coming along nicely. I’ll go into town this afternoon and see Fred Lang about a team of pickers. Oh, and I’ve got Adam repairing the garden fence down by the river, I think a roo had a go at it.

The two men walked along the row of grape vines to where little Isaac was playing at the end with Sarah, his sister. He looked up, and ran towards his father gripping the clover chain he had made.

Look, daddy, look. Sarah and I are making faery chains. Sarah says there are faeries at the bottom of the garden. Daddy look. I’m going to hide and try to see a faery playing, do you want to come dad.

I can’t just now, Isaac, I have to mow the grass this afternoon so it will be ready for the pickers. Here, have this bunch of grapes, they ‘re delicious. God has been good.

Isaac gripped the clover chain in one hand and held up his other hand for the grapes.

I want some too Daddy, called out Sarah, running down the row. She had woven clover into a tiara, which now perched precariously on her head, jiggling loose as she ran so she had to clutch at it to stop it falling off.

I got stung by a bee daddy, it was in the clover, do bees die after they sting you, Susan from school said they did, I said they didn’t, they went to heaven, that’s right dad, isn’t it?!

Yes, Sarah, that is right. Remember the bible talks about all creatures, great and small.

And faeries daddy

Yes, Isaac, and faeries.

I’ll go down and see how Adam is getting on with the fence, do you want to come children.

Yes, yes

The two children ran around their grandfather, who was walking off in the direction of the vegetable garden.

Abe called after him,

I’ll see Jack and set him up with the mowing. He seems much happier now, he was a real mess when he first arrived. I suppose time heals all wounds.

Solomon waved his hand in acknowledgment, then took Isaac’s small hand in his.

Abraham was immensely proud of his family, of his parents, who he thanked God were still with him, of his wife, Avner and particularly of his children, Isaac and Sarah. The family was not deeply religious and they did not observe all the strictures of their Jewish faith, but it was a theme in their lives and informed how they lived their life.

Solomon had emigrated from Poland in 1946. Interned in a death camp, he had seen things that no man should see. His wife, Rita, was from England. They met on the boat and fell in love. Rita helped heal the psychological wounds in the big man. She was emmigrating to Tasmania to live, she had heard from friends that is was just like England. They soon established a vineyard and an apple orchard. Their neighbours, Ruth and Jack Blackwood, became firm friends.

The property was further up the river from the Blackwoods, and adjoined the Crowleys. The farm ran down to the river which provided an abundance of water. They built their house on high ground overlooking the river. Below the house, the riverbank was marshy. Every season, ducks came to build their nests and raise their young. Just above the marsh Solomon built up his vegetable garden. Isaac liked to creep down and watch the young ducks swimming about on the water, ducking their heads, their little legs scrambling in the air. Isaac would whisper to himself, ‘all along the river, ducks came a dabbling, up tails all’, the song from his favourite story, ‘Wind in the willows’. Sarah liked to play among the furry bullrushes and make faery gardens.

Often Syd and Betty would come over to play, or young Lindsay Blackwood. They had played together since forever, and the roots of the families intertwined like aging lovers over the years.

How’s it going Adam, seems like you’ve made a fair start since this morning.

Oh, hello Mr Jaffe, hello Isaac, come to supervise have you

No, Adam, I’ve come to help

Adam tousled Isaac’s hair as he came to stand beside Adam and stare with interest at the fencing tools.

I thought we’d plant some corn this summer, I like the cobs picked fresh and young. Make sure you plant enough for yourself as well Adam.

I'll cut the grass back along the bank today or tomorrow, I’ve seen a couple of browns in the last weeks

And me

Yes, there’ll be plenty of corn for you young Isaac.

Sarah wandered towards a clump of bullrushes.

Sarah, Sarah, be careful! Don’t go into the long grass, that’s a good girl.

Yes, yes, that’s a good idea. I’ll ask Alex if he can spare you for a few more days.

I’ll let him know, Mr Jaffe.

Solomon nodded.

Well, I’ll see you later Adam. Send the children up if they become a nuisance.

They’re never a nuisance Mr Jaffe.

You are a good man, Adam.

Adam smiled self-consciously, a shadow crossing over his face briefly, observed by Solomon who sensed a man struggling to come to terms with his past. Solomon knew deeply about coming to terms with your past.

The children soon tired of watching Adam work and started to gravitate towards the bullrushes and the tall grass. Adam couldn’t relax, and he suggested that they play back at the house. The suggestion was met with disappointed children’s noises, Isaac tried his special voice, which usually got around an adults unreasonable demands, but Adam could not be budged.

I’ll mow the grass this afternoon, and then you can come down tomorrow to play.

Alright Adam, the two children chorused as their attention was diverted by their father coming out of a row of grapevines.

Daddy, Daddy, guess what, Adam saw a snake, Adam saw a snake!!

It’s nearly lunchtime kids, lets go up and see what Mummy has to eat.

The children ran ahead, squealing and skipping. Their mother, Avner, was standing on the verandah waiting for them. She was a stately woman, in her early forties who seemed to exude an air of perpetual calm. It was a cushion into which her family could immerse itself, utterly safe. The children ran into her aura as though they were diving into the sea, and instantly calmed down, contenting themselves with telling their mother of all the things they had done that morning.

We made clover chains

and Sarah was stung by a bee

and Susan said they died, but they don’t, Dad said so

and gumpa ate some grapes that Dad picked

and we helped Adam build a fence, he’s going to mow the grass and then we can play at the bulrushes

and he’s going to plant corn and gumpa said he could plant some for himself, I like Adam, he’s fun

mummy, can Syd and Betty come over to play tomorrow, can they, can they ...

I want Rachael to ...

They all can, I’ll ring their mothers this afternoon, now go inside and wash your hands, we’re having hamburgers for lunch, with large white buns from Mr Neilson’s bakery.

The children ran indoors.

Hello, darling. Good morning in town?

Yes, thanks. Adam is good with the kids, I might see if he would like to look after the whole tribe tomorrow for a while.

Yes, I think he’d like that. Alex said that one of the female pickers has a crush on him.

Don’t look so surprised, that wouldn't come as a surprise to any woman. If I weren’t married she’d be in for some serious competition.

I see I’ll have to keep an eye on you, laughed Abraham.

You can keep as many eyes on me as you like my lover.

Abraham swept his wife into a huge bear hug.

I do so love you.

Solomon and Rita lived on a separate house on the property, it was built close to Abraham and Avner’s house. After lunch, Avner sent the children to visit their grandmother who was now largely confined to the house. Solomon had bought her a buggy to ride around the farm on, but she didn't like it and it sat forlornly in the garage.

Grandma, Grandma, we’ve come to visit. We’ve had lunch but Mummy said we could have one biscuit each.

Rita smiled at the joyous presence of her two grandchildren. They bought lightness and laughter into her house. She thanked God that she was able to have some time with them before it was her time to go.

Well, aren’t you both lucky, I made anzac biscuits just this morning. You will have to guess which jar they are in.

Both children ran into the kitchen and were soon opening the first of the three large jars that Rita kept her biscuits in. After a squabble over who should open the second jar there were squeals of delight as they found the anzac biscuits; Crunchy, treaclly, luscious.

Watch out for crumbs

Yes, grandma!!

The children came back into the room and were soon rummaging around the books on the large shelves that contained what seemed to be hundreds of books. All four walls of the large living room were lined with bookshelves, and one was dedicated to children’s books. Rita and Solomon were voracious readers, they devoured books and knowledge, never tiring of the excitement a new book or new uthor would bring. Solomon, in particular, was determined to make up for those lost years, and determined that his family had access to knowledge and learning. The children’s books had been collected over a generation and new ones were added constantly. Elizabeth and Christian Reinhardt who owned the local bookstore were old and firm friends.

Learning is above all that, was Solomon’s comment after meeting Elizabeth and Christian for the first time.

The next day Syd, Betty and Racheal came over and the children were soon playing hide and seek in and about the grapevines.

Adam finished the last of the fence and had morning tea with the children and Avner. Abraham and Solomon were busy in the sorting shed with a machine that had broken down.

Can we play in the bullrushes and make faery gardens?

Yes, Sarah, I mowed all the long grass yesterday. Will that be alright Avner?

Yes, of course. Make sure you do what Adam says, children.

YES!!!

Wait for me, I haven’t finished my cup of tea

The children waited in a restless mêlée of excited anticipation.

After you have finished playing, Grandma will read you all a story.

Choruses of approval met Avner’s pronouncement and Adam’s final swig of tea. He smiled and stood up. Then he turned as if to talk to Avner. There was a palpable sigh from the children. Then relief as Adam turned around.

Let’s go!

He ran off in the direction of the vegetable garden with the children running after him, all laughing and crying out.

The smell of new mown grass permeated the air and the children were soon throwing the emerald-green grass at each other.

Stop it! yelled Adam, laughing, I’ll have to rake it all up again.

The boys tackled Adam around the legs and the girls pushed him until he overbalanced and fell over, then they took turns in jumping on him and stuffing handfuls of grass down his back.

It’ll itch, it’ll itch, he cried out.

Soon they were exhausted and lying on the ground, basking in the sun like green catapillers on a leaf. Wriggling every so often as it got too hot.

The children could lie still for only so long ...

Let’s make a faery garden, let’s make a faery garden!

Yes, let’s. Can we Adam?

The children were soon playing happily around the bulrushes, and for the next hour made a castle out of Adam, who patiently lay still while they heaped grass, clover chains, flowers, bulrushes and small stones on him. He blew some grass from his top lip and told them why Pooh bear was called Pooh bear. Rachael was the last to get it, then she laughed and started to blow air up to her top lip while saying, pooh, pooh.

See what insects you can find for me.

Isaac loved insects, he soon returned with a large brown grasshopper that Adam promised to hold on to. Then he returned with a centipede, three beetles and, prized of all, a preying mantis; a hint of green moving imperceptibly along his arm.

Syd returned with a frog and three snails. Betty managed to catch a beautiful butterfly. Rachael did not like insects and hadn't looked very hard. Sarah was absorbed in gazing at a spider web, It’s gossamer thread sparkling in the sunshine.

What's the poem about beetles?

Isaac started the poem

I found a little beetle, so that Beetle was his name
And I called him Alexander and he answered just the same
I put him in a match-box, and I kept him all the day
And Nanny let my beetle out -
Yes, Nanny let my beetle out -
She went and let my beetle out -
And Beetle ran away


Then Sarah followed on


She said she didn't mean it, and I never said she did,
She said she wanted matches and she just took off the lid,
She said that she was sorry, but it's difficult to catch,
An excited sort of beetle you've mistaken for a match.

She said that she was so sorry, and I really mustn't mind,
As there's lots and lots of beetles which she's certain we could find,
If we looked about the garden for the holes where beetles hid -
And we'd get another match-box and write BEETLE on the lid.


Then Isaac took the story up before Sarah could go on.


We went to all the places which a beetle might be near,
And we made the sort of noises which a beetle likes to hear,
And I saw a kind of something, and I gave a sort of shout:
"A beetle-house and Alexander Beetle coming out!"

It was Alexander Beetle I'm as certain as can be,
And he had a sort of look as if he thought it must be Me,
And he had a sort of look as if he thought h eought to say:
"I'm very very sorry that I tried to run away."


Sarah interrupted,


And Nanny's very sorry too for you-know-just-what-she-did,
And she's writing ALEXANDER very blackly on the lid.
So Nan and Me are friends, because it's difficult to catch,
An excited Alexander you've mistaken for a match.

Isaac repeated the last two lines loudly,

So Nan and Me are friends, you see, because it’s difficult to catch
And excited Alexander you’ve mistaken for a match.

That was written by A.A. Milne, said Sarah seriously. He wrote the stories about Pooh bear.

Rachael blew her top lip again, and laughed.

I’m going to play over at the faery garden, coming Rachael, coming Betty?

No, we want to finishing making a castle of Adam.

There were no sounds other than the sounds of nature and the gentle squeals of children at play.

Ouch! Oww! Owww!

Adam leapt to his feet,

Sarah! Sarah! where are you!

He sprinted down to the bulrushes, dread flooding through his body.

Sarah had overbalanced onto a rock. She was sitting in the water and crying, with blood oozing from a nasty cut on her forehead.

Adam swept her up into his arms and carried her onto the bank were he set her down and applied a hanky to her forehead. Then he picked her up and, turning to the children, yelled,

Stay here, don’t go anywhere until I get back!

He ran up to the house and paced and paced while Avner took care of Sarah.

It’s all right Adam, it was an accident, children will be children. See, she’s stopped crying.

The accident had dredged up memories in Adam that flayed him with fire, like avenging demons shreding his psyche and bringging back the void that was night.

Avner could sense his anguish and tried to comfort him. Soon Sarah forgot her sore head and snuggled up to him.

I’m all right Adam, see it’s only a small cut. Thank you for saving me.

Adam sat still, numb. Avner made him a cup of very sweet black tea.

Drink this, Adam. Oh, where are the other children, still down at the bull rushes?

Yes, I told them to wait there, I thought they would slow me up. I came straight up, I was worried Avner, it was happening all over again ....... all over again.

No Adam, it was just an accident.

Abraham walked in shortly after.

What's happened?

Avner filled in the details. Abraham checked that his daughter was unharmed, then turned to Adam.

You wait here, mate, I’ll go and get the other children. You did good, mate, good. It wasn’t your fault.

Isaac had wandered a long way along the creek, around many bends. He hadn't noticed how far, he was intent on stalking the wild ducks and water fowl that inhabited the reeds. Crawling on his stomach, he edged quietly into a clump of bullrushes with his gaze fixed firmly on the ducks foraging in the shallow water. He slowly reached out his arm, and was so intent on stalking his quarry that he did not notice the hint of brown. The snake was a fully gown female with a nest of young to protect. The moment Isaac’s hand touched her tail, she arched around and lunged at the intruder. It bit savagely into Isaac’s upper arm, his thin woollen jumper offering no protection. The pain and terror of seeing the snake caused Isaac to spring up and grab at the snake in panic. It only released the terrified boy when the last of its venom was exhausted, it had fastened on for the kill. Isaac ran, sobs chocking out from his very being, his small face pale and frightened. Within seconds his running because erratic. Soon his knees buckled and he fell head-long onto long grass, hidden from view. One hand inched painfully slowly towards home, fully outstretched it became still.

Abraham returned to the house looking worried.

Has Isaac come back?

No, I haven’t seen him. Perhaps he has gone to see his grandparents.

I’ll go and see.

He returned with Solomon.

No, he wasn’t here.

I’ll check at the shed.

I’ll check with the pickers, if he’s not there then they can come and help us look for him. He can’t have gone far.

I’ll go down to the vegetable garden.

I’ll ring Ruth and Janice, and tell them the children might be late getting back, I said I would drop them off at 5.

Adam came back looking devastated.

He’s not there.

The same lament from Abraham and Solomon.

The pickers and workers from the shed stood around embarrassed and awkward, wanting to do something to alleviate the suffering around them.

What do you want us to do? asked Loopy, who’d come over to help with the machinery. He was good at engines.

We’ll start at the vegetable garden. Half of you can go with Solomon upstream, the other half can come with me. Adam, you come with me. We’ll spread out on both sides of the creek and follow it. He’s probably gone of in a world of his own looking for insects or some bird. It’ll be dark soon, so we’d better get a crack on.

Are there any torches at the shed or in the houses?

Yes, that’s a good idea. Loopy, grab Macka and get as many torches as you can, then bring them down to the creek.

Right ho.

I’m coming too, the voice was firm and resolute.

No, my darling, someone has to look after the children and be here if Isaac returns. Mum will be at the other house.

Reluctantly, Avner stayed, the children standing around her as the workers began walking down towards the creek.

It was slow going, no-one had realized just how much tall grass and clumps of shrubs there were along the creek. They spread out and started calling the boy’s name.

Isaac! Isaac! Isaac!

Abraham stopped at the sheep enclosure. Rita and Avner spun the wooll, which they used to make jumpers that sold for a considerable sum at the markets in Hobart. Isaac liked to play with the sheep, particularly the young lambs. He didn’t like it when Abraham slaughtered one for meat. Solomon had taught Abraham how to kill the animal and then hang it before dressing it. It provided fresh meat, grown without any chemicals and it tasted better than anything the local butcher could serve up.

Abraham was pretty sure he would not be able to teach Isaac. The boy had too much affinity with nature. He was insatiably curious and was forever poking about trying to find another strange insect. He would take it in his hand and go to his books identify it before carefully letting it go where he had found it. He could watch ants for hours as they spread out in columns finding food and carrying it back to the nest. He watched as ants cut the wings off a cicada so they could tug it back into the nest. He was fearless and sometimes walked into the house with a venomous spider on his hand. It won't hurt you mum, as long as it knows it isn’t being threatened. Nevertheless, Avner would say, please don’t do it, you far to precious.

Awww mum.

As the cruel gods of fate would have it, Abraham found his boy. He spotted the red jumper in the fading light.

He ran over to the prostrate boy. The first thing he saw was the blood on Isaacs arms and the two small gashes where the fangs had sunk in without mercy. The bite was more a tear than a puncture, the boy had been given no chance. Abraham knelt down and reached for the boy’s hand, more in despair than hope. It was cold. Isaac’s other hand was under his forehead. There was no pulse. Abraham brushed the boys hair, then picked him up and held him close.

Adam came across Abraham kneeling with the boy cradled in his arms.

How am I going to tell Avner?

Abraham stood up and started to walk to the house with the boy still in his arms. Adam following, his head bowed, his steps clumsy, a familiar force had stolen all his strength.

Abraham walked into the house and tenderly lay the boy on the couch in the lounge room. Avner knelt beside her husband and brushed the hair from Isaac’s forehead. Young Sarah stood beside her mother, not comprehending the enormity of what had happened.

Faeries aren’t bad are they mummy?

No, my darling, faeries aren’t bad.

When will Isaac wake up mummy?

 

How do you answer that question ...... how?

 


Isaac is going to have a long sleep Sarah, he is going to wake up with God. He won’t wake up with us ever again.

 


Then Avner broke down.

 

A long pause, the silence holding at bay a cruel reality, then the first innocent question,


Why, mummy?

 
That’s enough questions Sarah, said Solomon gently. Come with me child and we will visit your grandmother, she will want to come over. Solomon took Sarah’s hand in his and with steps that carried a weight far heavier than he had ever experienced, even in the camps, he walked over to tell his wife.

Shortly after he wheeled Rita into the house and stopped beside Avner who was still kneeling beside her small, beloved boy and brushing his hair. Rita put a hand on Avner’s back and let it rest their, the understanding of one mother to another, giving what strength she had, giving it freely and wishing she had more.


I will make the calls.

Yes, thanks Dad.


You are not taking my boy tonight. Tonight he sleeps with us. You can take him tomorrow. It is too soon, Abraham, it is too soon.

Avner stood up and walked over to get some water and a cloth to bath her son. Abraham made a half-hearted gesture to stop her, but desisted when he looked into her eyes.


The death of a child is the ultimate betrayal by a parent, a betrayal of trust felt so deeply that tears apart your soul.


Adam had felt that anguish once in his life, and he now felt it again. Young Isaac had been in his care, had been entrusted to him. He didn't think he could go through that again. The healing was too soon, the scars too raw; the very tissue of his being stretched to breaking point and then unraveled. He stood up and started to walk, unnoticed by anyone, each person deep within their own private sorrow.

The chook's beak shadows clawed at his soul, drawing dark drops of spiritual blood.

That night each person lay quietly, coming to terms with their private grief. Rita and Solomon slept in the house. Rita spent hours sitting with young Sarah who simply could not comprehend, but knew that her family had been torn apart.

Avner’s lay in Abraham’s arms, sobbing, keening .... then silent .... then sobbing ...

Magpies and kookaburras heralded the long awaited, long dreaded morning. The morning Isaac was to take his last journey from his home. Avner lay in bed postponing the inevitable. She simply could not move. Abraham did not have the strength of will to rise himself, let alone give strength to his wife.

Solomon knocked softly on the door. His reserves of human compassion were deep, forged in circumstances that could encompass this tragedy. He walked over and sat on the bed. Just sat and was silent.

 

Then Solomon spoke quietly and with a voice that seemed to echo from another place ...


It must be faced.

It is to be faced one small step at a time. But it will faced squarely and with pride. You owe that to yourself and your boy. You owe it to your daughter.

The burden you will take up today will be heavy, but, God willing, we have given you enough strength to carry it, to show you can carry it. I will leave the room now and go to your boy. I have kept him company all night, he has not been alone. Your mother has been with Sarah. This is a time of family, and praise be to God, we have a strong family.

 


One small step at a time.

 


I will make the calls.

 


The doctor, the police, the ambulance. It was a small community, they already knew when the calls came. They came with compassion. Avner held her boys hand all the way to the ambulance, then reluctantly she let go, she remained standing, a strong mother, spiritually she fell to her knees sobbing, a mother. Ian Craddock, the ambulance officer, softly shut the door, looked squarely at Avner and Abraham, then turned and walked away. The ambulance drove away, slowly, taking part of their very being with it.

 

Oh God, why have you forsaken me!

God has not forsaken you, Abraham, you have forsaken God, and that you must not do or my poor sweet boy will have nowhere to go. You must not, Abraham, you must not.

 


It was not his time, it was mine, why didn’t you take me God. Why!!?

It was his time my love, we must have faith that it was his time, otherwise all those whose time came early are lost. We must not let that happen Rita, we must not.

 

 

Dark clawing shadows danced around the moonlight like witches around a cauldron. They seemed to mock Adam, to invite him to dance, to harry him, to snare him in their wicked embrace. He was not strong enough and he stumbled through the bush, cutting himself badly, unfelt, bruising himself on roots and branches, unfelt. He swore at God, he cursed the devil. He fell many times and lay sobbing.

Eventually he arrived home.

Harvey sensed the gross wrong that had been done the man and simply walked up to him and licked his hand. Charlie, for the first time, was silent. Nature understood. Adam fell onto his bed, exhausted, and spent a restless, fitful night harried by the nightmares he thought had finally gone away.

His moans through the night fell on stony ground and were shattered.

Toward morning he fell into a fitful sleep.

He awoke to find Eve sitting on the bed.

Shhhh, it’s alright, shhhhhh my darling man, it’s alright, shhhhhhhh.