A short story

Socotra Island off of the coast of Africa.

Strange and Different, as the caption of this piece called it a 'jewel of bio diversity'. If you have a mind to see more of this exotic and different island where they travel by camel, go to www.jeroprieto.com for the U-Tube film on it.

The trees in the picture reminded me of the umbrella trees that were in the front of our house when I was a child. When I wrote my very first story, which I called "Windows", the first chapter was called Kitchen Windows and I wrote:

"How often have you looked out of your kitchen window? What do you see? I know I have looked out of many kitchen windows in my life time, maybe I could say a million times. What did I see? UM . . . well, I would have to say it would depend on what kitchen window and the time of day and year. I do know I always saw something interesting. I remember a kitchen window overlooking a back yard, so beautiful, it was the talk of the neighborhood. The gentle man who lived there had a very special gift for taking care of his garden with such love and care that it brought joy to many people.

His yard was a small city lot, 60x100, not very big but more than adequate for his needs. He measured out his flower beds, planted hedges all-around separating his yard from his neighbors and every Saturday morning he was out there with his hedge trimmers making sure that they were neat and tidy.

In the center of the yard were rows of hedges creating a path that lead to an open field with its many wild flowers, a pond with lily pads and toads that croaked loudly on a summer night. There was even a deep culvert covered by iron grating that attracted the children playing in the field. They had such vivid imaginations that they could see old "king-kong" hovering around down there and would be so scared they would run home as fast as their legs could get them there.

From the kitchen window you could see a plum tree, with its wood slatted bench surround the tree trunk where you could sit and gaze at the beautiful pink rose climbers covering the side of a small play house. This little shed used to be a chicken coop and the gentle man fixed it up with two windows that could be pulled up inside and attached to a hook in the ceiling. The door was a dutch door and often the top opened to let in the fresh air and sunshine. The children played by the hour and used the purple thistles and lily pads from the field to make paper doll furniture.

Next to the plum tree was a grape arbor, a lovely retreat with a hammock and a swing Radishes grew in rows behind the arbor and you could pick one up, wash it under the hose and eat and enjoy the peppery bite of it. The Greek neighbors would come over to pick the tender grape leaves for making their special dish called Dolmani. They often shared the dish with this man and his family. At Easter they would send over beautiful braided bread with colorful eggs bedded within the braid. Sometimes they would have a summer wedding and the children would look over the hedges to watch the dancers as the twirled and held handkerchiefs in the air. They would give the children pastel colored almonds wrapped in mesh and tied with lovely ribbons.

The flower bed were planted win zinnias, petunias, four-o-clocks, holly hocks, lupine and lovely bushes of snow ball flowers and bleeding hearts. This gentle man would make up bouquets for the church altars and give away flowers to all of his neighbors. The flowers bring back a memory so dear and so funny. The children would take their mother's prize possession, a statue of the Holy Family and bring it over to the grape arbor they would set up an altar and take turns crowning the Blessed Virgin. This was a traditional event at church during the month of May. The nuns picked certain children for this honor and these children knew their chances of being chosen were so slim they decided to have their procession. Sometimes they would get the statue back in its place but one day the mother heard some singing and being curious she went to investigate only to see her statue sitting on a makeshift altar, surrounded by beautiful flowers and when she saw the children's shining faces her anger left and her pride shone in the tears that came to her eyes, and she joined in the singing.

The garage was to the left of the grape arbor. The children used the big work bench as a stage and would put on skits and they would charge the neighborhood children a penny to come and be entertained. Sometimes they would make ten cents and walk over to the small candy store where they could stand on a wooden bench and pick out their favorite candy. It could be a "Mary Jane", a stream of paper with colored dots of candy, or "root beer barrels" that would last most of the day.

On the first day of May the Jewish sisters would gather the neighborhood children for a parade to a local park. The children would be all dressed in crepe paper costumes and there would be a king and a queen to lead the parade. The carts would be all dressed in crepe paper streamers and the lunches packed in the carts. How the children loved this day.

The kitchen window, as you can see, brings back a myriad of memories of a very young child playing away the summer days. Even in winter this window offered solace as you could look out and see that everything in the gardens was asleep; the branches of the trees bare and until spring thaw snow would cover the yard like a blanket, and all would be peaceful and serene.

The window is still there after sixty nine years. The tall wonderful gentle man with his moustache and gnarled fingers, characterizing the earth he worked in, has gone on to his reward but left a legacy of love. You can go back in memory, look out of this kitchen window and see the curtains swaying in the breeze, little animals scurrying and busy insects flying in their array while this special man worked his yard, and in your imagination you could watch him or join him and feel the love all over again."

So today, look out your kitchen window and see the sights that are waiting for you to enjoy. Maybe, if you are lucky, it will bring back memories of younger days when you were carefree and enjoyed lazy summer days. I hope so, it is so good for the mind, the body and soul. Make it a good one.