Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: GREEN (01/19/17)
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TITLE: A Tender Shoot | Previous Challenge Entry
By Karen Dick
01/25/17 -
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“What?” I gripped the potato.
“It’s happening,” Marty answered with a chuckle.
The peeler slipped from my hand, and I stared at my husband. “What are you talking about?”
“My raspberries! I saw a green sprout! They’re alive!” He laughed.
I retrieved the peeler from the floor, shook my head, and attacked the potato with a vengeance. There’s so much work to be done, but He’s all excited about one little sprout.
“Why don’t you come and see?” Droplets of water rolled down his jacket and onto the wood floor.
I rolled my eyes, and continued my chore. “Maybe when the rain stops.” Silence followed until I heard the squeak of the back door.
Through the kitchen window, I watched Marty walk across the soggy green grass. A ray of sun suddenly appeared through the gray clouds. He turned to look at me, with his hands to the sky, proving that indeed, the rain had stopped.
With a sigh and a nod, I laid down the peeler. I slipped on my raincoat, pulled on rubber galoshes, and grabbed my umbrella.
Soon, I was squishing across the saturated grass. Marty’s gait was bouncy and quick, and I surrendered any attempt at keeping up with him. The umbrella served well as a stabilizer, while I hoisted myself up the embankment and to the raspberry garden.
“Come over here,” Marty called with excitement.
The raspberry canes were stubby, brown and bare, not showing any life at all. I continued on between the rows, tramping down unattended tall grass and muddy weeds. Finally, I caught up to my husband and leaned in to see what he was observing. He was crouched close to the ground, while pulling a short cane toward him.
“You’re holding a stick.” I observed flatly.
“This is a cane, and if you look closely, you’ll see a small shoot on the side.” He smiled and tenderly touched the tiny green leaf as he gazed at it.
“Okay.” I watched his face, while a lump formed in my throat. He used to look at me that way.
“I know it doesn’t look like much right now, but eventually, not only will the green leaves cover the canes, but we’ll have delicious raspberries. It will be beautiful.” With glowing eyes, and a broad smile, he stood.
I took a deep breath and looked back toward the house. “I don’t mean to break up your happy moment, but there’s a lot of work to be done around here. What about wood for the fire? What about that leak in the bathroom?”
Marty’s smile disappeared and his head fell. He then walked past me without a word.
My eyes burned and I swallowed, as I watched him walk away. Lord, why did I do that? A robin chirped, and I glanced at the blue sky emerging through the parted clouds. I’m sorry. A tear ran down my cheek as I slowly looked around at the rows of lovingly planted canes. I took a deep breath, and turned to leave the garden, when a spot of green caught my eye. To get a closer look, I squatted low to the ground. Another green shoot. A sign of life. I smiled.
My heart beat rapidly as I tramped through the drenched grass. I pushed through the back door, flung off my boots and tossed my damp coat onto the back of a chair. The warmth of the room caused my skin to tingle, and I looked over at the new roaring fire in the wood stove.
From down the hallway came a tinkering sound, so I followed it. Marty was on his knees with his head beneath the bathroom sink.
“I hope you’re saying a few prayers for me down there.” I chuckled, as he carefully backed out of the cabinet.
“It’s fixed,” he answered solemnly while getting to his feet.
With my hands clasped in front of me, I grinned at him. “It’s happening.”
“What?” He stared with furrowed brows.
“I saw another green sprout.” I laughed and held my breath.
His face softened as he looked into my eyes. Then tenderly, he took my hand in his.
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