The Mockingbird Legends
A Postmodern Gothic Tale. Coming of Age Rural in a Dissolute Time.
Forty-two
Father and daughter - anvilheaded Slovene paraclete, the crowning glory of his loins. Perhaps of all of creation, the story is not yet over. One of them come to this place, the other born to it. Together they walk the plantation rows on the steamy side of the Grand Trunk Line.
-I thought I was going to be without you in the mornings, Lili.
-I can’t go back there.
-It’s not your fault, they know that. An accident. That is all.
-They told me not to open the window. But I did it anyway. It was inhuman in there.
-It is inhuman in there. And you are human being. They cannot blame you. They will see.
-Richard told them he doesn’t want me going anywhere near his mother. Or him for that matter.
-I used to like that boy, the man frowned. I can’t remember, maybe I did. But what is an old woman to a young one? She is dying – dying. Maybe already dead.
-Dad!
-But you, Lili? Just coming to life.
-What’s your point?
-Everyone’s luck runs out. Who will we sacrifice? He pushed a hand over his leonine skull. Do you want I talk to them?
-No. No, I’d rather be here for now. Just here.
-No matter. That boy was more nose than man, anyway. Do I remember right boy?
-Yes, I suppose that is him. He had a big nose. But his prospects looked good otherwise.
-Bah. I can’t say I’m sorry. I could tell you that I was, but it would be lie.
They walked on abreast examining the crop.
-Look at this crop Lili. Best ever!
-Yeah.
-Am I wrong?
-No, no - you are not wrong, dad. It really is the best.
-You see what happens when you bring back God?
-Did you get the contract with the organic buyer?
-A monkey can do what the other monkeys do, Lili. Take easy banana. But that is a monkey, that is not a man. I got the contract, yes my daughter. Good terms, good terms. The best.
They went on, stopping periodically to examine the heavy sagging drupes.
-Look at this here, look at these branches. You did excellent job thinning this year, daughter. Left just right amount, anymore and the branches break. Any less, we lose money.
Lili flushed and was quiet but walking a little straighter now as they went on. Big boned maleness. Young haunches swinging just so. Panning up and down with their eyes, stopping to examine a tree more closely.
-What about these blemishes, the young woman said, palming a fruit without plucking it and pointing out some darkened pocks.
-It’s nothing. It’s not same game now, Lili.
-Not the same game?
-They take them anyway.
-Wow. That is a good deal.
-It is great deal. No poisons, no paying for poisons, no worry about perfect peach. Bumper crop. We are saved, Lili… almost.
-I am so happy for you, dad.
-For us, Lili. For us. They went on. A great murmuration of starlings swept over the embankment and back. They say that when you are first born you begin to die. It is not true, you only begin die when you begin die. I begin die, Lili. You, you still come to life. And now this land, this land come back to life with you.
-I just wonder how are we ever going to get all this picked in time?
-Yes, Lili, yes. That is the question. How we get this picked in time. You think like good farmer. Look ahead, look around. Look at all this fruit, all this money. Right here, you touch it, you hold it. You may think it is ours. But it is not ours, not really, not yet. Not until it is in the bank. Right now it still belongs to God. We need miracle. We need miracle to make it ours.
-We could hire a crew of blackfellas. I know some that are not so happy where they are.
-No Lili, no blackfellas.
-They could have it off in a day the crew I am thinking about.
-Lili, Lili. Look at this crop. It is a miracle, no?
-I suppose so.
-Good. We have one miracle, we will have two. This is our year for miracles.