Eulália Gameiro

RussitaSki on river waters and fish in the trees

“A fool is the one who disregards a child’s help”

In April, with the weeding, and watering, there were hands full. The duties were many and my mother alone could not account for all of the errands so the neighbors helped each other up on the field tasks.

A day’s help was lent just as if it was a hoe, a bowl of rice or a handful of matches.

On that day it was necessary to weed the corn on a field called Várzea. A group of five people joined: my mother, Ti Leonilde, Ti Ilda, Ti Herminia, and Guida. I was also in the group with a hoe on my shoulder, very upright and willing to help.

When we arrived to the cornfield, the women shared tasks. While three of them began weeding, Guida and her mother perched upon themselves, drew the stalks of unnecessary corn, those who would eventually shrink to one another because they are so close together. It seemed a simple task, but it was quite difficult! Among so many stalks of corn, which one should go out?

Their accurate hands knew exactly which stalk of corn should leave. The roots jumped out of the earth with a "crrac“ and were shaken with a slight movement and then placed in a wisp, which grew and grew...until it became unbearable and was then perched on the edge of the cornfield.

- So, dickhead. Did you come to behold the work? – asked Guida pertly.

- What is it? – I asked and poured out my tongue in mockery.

It was enough for my mother to take notice of me :

- Grab the hoe and start weeding. “A fool is the one who disregards a child’s help” the little you do I won’t do it myself.

- Be careful not to harm the corn stalk! Hoe around it. Bend yourself, pull the grass out and place it in a pile, like this you see? The sun will finish it off. This is your row. Follow it, come on…

Guida started singing:

“let me get married mother dear! While I am still a youngling!

‘cause the cornfield hoed lateGives no straw and gives no ear!

Everybody wants me, I want someone I want my love, don’t want anyone. “

Everybody wants me, I want something I want my love, don’t want anything. "

“Mother promised me as wedding giftThree fat and healthy sheep

One is blind the other lame and the other’s got no earsEverybody wants me, I want someone

I want my love, don’t want anyone. “Everybody wants me, I want something

I want my love, don’t want anything. "

The song was well known and my mother went on:

“Mother promised me as wedding giftA mighty young white horse

But after I got married Gave me a poor limping mule!

Everybody wants me, I want someone I want my love, don’t want anyone. “

Everybody wants me, I want something I want my love, don’t want anything.

My mother looked at my work and as it was already well advanced she smiled happily.

- Go to the stream and bring us the jug of water that is refreshing there.

That was music for my ears. I hurried to the cold water, knelt by the stream and splashed my face. Huummm! That freshness! I cleaned my face with the flap of my blouse.

I took the dripping jug out of the water, and a splash fell to the ground ... looked like it was broken and the water was pouring ... but no! It was just the one that had entered through the straw and the glass.

- We already deserve to eat something! Come on – my mother called after a while. We all washed hands and face in the stream and then my mum fetched the lunch basket that was waiting by the shade of the reed. She spread a towel on the soft grass and we all sat down around it, on the ground.

She placed the containers of roasted pork sausage, egg omelet, ham, cheese and greaves on the towel. Then she took a large cornbread out of the basket and cut it into pieces, scattering them on the towel.

- Go on, help yourself, please do. Do not do the ceremony. “Those who aren't fit for food aren't fit for work."

I cut a piece of omelet, put it on a piece of cornbread and started eating. Never in all my life, the food tasted so good! There, by the shade of the cherry tree, listening to the noise of the stream, those flavors were just delicious. I tried a bit of everything, but saved the best to the end: greaves. Crispy, juicy, greaves moisture in the mouth and together with that bread it was a delight.

I ate greedily but mum never told me anything or warned, as she used to do at home when I was exaggerating. I looked at her and she looked at me, laughing.

- So, how do you like it? - Huumm! Very good mother.

- That's because you spent energies working. If you laied down all morning, doing nothing, the food wouldn’t taste so well. – Ti Ilda said.

- I would be delighted, staying at home and doing nothing but rest! - Guida said through low speech.

- That you would, wouldn’t you slack one. If I let you, you wouldn’t stand up from bed, even to eat your meals. But hey, " who does not work shall not eat "! You were like to experience the same thing that happened to the other one…!

- What was it Mrs. Ilda? I asked curiously. - You do not know the story of this man, whom one

day hands and feet disobeyed? I said no shaking my head and she started telling:- Once upon a time there were two feet and hands

that thought they were slaves of the mouth and stomach, because they always had to work hard to give them food and lazy mouth and belly did nothing. Then one day, the hands said to the feet:

- Thou shall not give them food! And the feet responded: - Thou shall not give them drink!

And well said, well done. They were very pleased when the mouth complained and empty stomach rumbled and rumbled. They heard them complaining, happy and revenged. But the other parts of the body also began to protest. First, protested the head, which began to yaw; then the ears, which began to pop; then the breast, which began to pant; after the skin which began to sweat.

- Well done! - Exclaimed the partners. It is for you to learn. Never again shall we be your slaves. And they long let themselves placidly waiting, while the rest of the body complained.

Ti Ilda took a piece of bread with cheese, put it in the mouth and started chewing.

Alas! I wouldn’t care! Well done ... - Said Guida giggling.   - Do you think so? - I asked, thoughtfully - I think the feet and hands were very selfish. After all, the rest of the body was not able to fetch food alone, they needed their help…- Now! - She answered - " who does not work shall not eat “! they did very well!

Ti Ilda drank a sip of water and wiped his mouth on the sleeve of her blouse. - It is seen that beyond lazy you are dumb! What do you think that happened? Do you think that the feet and hands were laughing forever? For I tell you they lost the good mood in a while.

- One day, the hands wanted to open up and failed, they had no power even to lift a finger. The feet wanted to walk and wham! Toppled sideways, without strength. Seeing the mistake they had made, they asked the mouth to call for help, but the mouth was silent for long. The head seemed empty, the bent shrunken belly stuck to the back, the skin was withered and dry, eyes closed … alas! A tragedy.

- So what? Did they die? - I asked in anguish. - Yes, they all died of hunger. This is what

happens to those who are lazy and to those who are dependent on them. The less they do, the less they can do.

Guida blushed, but didn’t give in. She muttered between her teeth:

- So this is best for you not to lie down or rest. Let yourself always to work hard without resting and you will see what happens to you ...

- That’s it! You big goofy. Come on, raise your big rested body thence! – and she gave her a light slap on the head. We all laughed as Guida, who understood very well the message of the story pulled her mother’s tapes of the apron which opened and fell to the ground, tripping the mother in it, almost falling.

But her mother was not angry. She laughed and threw her a dry root ball, which broke and spread across the chest, staining her blouse with powder. They looked like two playing girls.

But the cornfield waited for us and there we went, happily, towards work. ..

Extract from the Book Russita Ski on River Waters and Fish in the Trees

By Eulália Gameiro

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Sparkling Springtime by Sounds of Nature

Springtime Dreams