Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Write something suitable for CHILDREN (05/31/07)
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TITLE: Blackberry Picking | Previous Challenge Entry
By Fran Cantwell
06/06/07 -
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ADD TO MY FAVORITES
went for a picnic in the country. My mother made her famous potato salad with
cucumbers in it. My friends laughed, but I didn’t care. I loved it.
My aunts, uncles and cousins met at the Roadside Park. My father was the only
one who could grill. Each family brought food. It looked like a King’s feast.
The adults prepared the food, and the children picked wild blackberries with
Molt. We weren’t allowed to call him “grandpa.” My mother called him Big Molt.
Granny was a big lady too. She wore Molt’s bib overalls. She looked funny in those
overalls. She told us the overalls kept the thorns away. Those blackberries had lots of
thorns.
Molt watched as Granny inspected our buckets. He was holding it. He
smiled at me as if to say, “Will it be yours?” I knew what he was thinking. We talked
about it every time we picked berries. Molt always gave a silver dollar to the person who
picked the most berries. In those days a silver dollar was a big deal.
My brother looked at Molt. He wanted that silver dollar. He had that look in his
eye. Would he win? I couldn’t let that happen. No matter what!
Granny finished looking over our buckets and Molt told us to split up, so we
wouldn’t trip over each other.
My cousins went one direction and my brother went the other. My sisters
wanted to go with me. I wanted to fill up my bucket. I didn’t want any interference. My
youngest sister always got tired and I got stuck carrying her around. There was no way
that was happening today. All I could think about was that silver dollar.
My sisters went one way. I turned around and went the other way. They
called me, but I ran off into the bushes. I heard my brother talking about how he was
going win that silver dollar. I crouched down so he couldn’t see me. Then I saw them.
Millions of berries! I almost shouted. I couldn’t believe it. There were enough berries
for ten buckets!
My arms got tired from picking. I sat down and picked some more. It seemed
like I’d been picking forever. It was getting hotter but I kept picking. Why wasn’t my
bucket filling up? As I picked I heard someone coming. I couldn’t let them see my gold
mine. What if it was my brother? I would have to let him pick with me. As the person
came closer I prayed, ‘please God, don’t let it be him.’
Then I saw it was Molt. Oh, thank God it was Molt. He looked at my bucket
then reached in his pocket and pulled out that silver dollar. He never said a word; I think
he knew that I was about to give up. I saw that silver dollar, and picked faster.
I heard my mother calling. Not now, I thought. My bucket is almost full, I can’t
come yet! I hollered that I would be there soon. I just had to fill up my bucket. I picked
faster. I knew if she came looking for me I’d have to stop. I filled my bucket and headed
back.
Everyone was watching as I came out of the blackberry bushes. I was carrying
my bucket. I kept thinking about was how I would spend that silver dollar.
Some of my cousins were eating sweet corn. My sisters were setting the table.
My brother was holding his bucket. Molt told us to set them on the table. I shut
my eyes real tight and prayed that I’d have the most. My sisters were first. Theirs was
half full. My cousins put theirs down, only half in theirs, too.
It was my turn. Mine was plum’ full! My brother was last. My heart was beating, and
I thought it would burst! He set his bucket on the table. It was only half full. I saw my
brother’s stained face, and knew he had eaten most of his berries.
Molt handed me the silver dollar, and smiled. He knew I would win. I always
won. But each time was better than the last. The best part, was knowing that the silver
dollar was waiting for me. Oh, I liked the berries, but it was getting that silver dollar
from Molt that meant the most to me.
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