A fleeting glimpse of a child’s endless summer.
Pat and Susan during an endless summer surrounded by fields of tall green corn
The buzz of a fly did it. Took me back to an endless summer of sunshine, imagination, and explorations of the farmyard jungle. My whole body melted into the experience of it. I was seven again, breathing it in – the hot summer sun, the dark welcoming shade, tall grass nodding in a puff of searing breeze, a forest of green corn.
In front of me, armed with needle-sharp thorns, a mass of wild raspberry bushes clung to an old wall. Tucked behind green leaves and barbed stems, the red and purple gems of flavour beckoned me. Never mind the danger to finger and wrist. I moved my hands slowly, stopping when a thorn pressed into my skin, before it pierced. While I plucked berries for my tiny basket, sweat beaded on my forehead and arms, my shirt already damp. Time stood still. Flies buzzed past hanging loud in the heat. Cicadas screeched background noise. The humid air was heavy with hot corn – I could smell it growing, stretching to the sun as I stood there. A tantalizing berry found it’s way to my mouth, exploding sweetness against my tongue. My dog, panting in the heat, rustled through the waist-high grass to give my bare leg a cool, sloppy nudge before wandering again.
I put down my basket and stepped back, peering from one side then the other into the dense prickly mass. The ripest were picked clean, well done. But habits are hard to break, no matter where we are, and I checked my watch. Time began to tick again, forcing my seven year old self to evaporate in the heat, wisping away the utter peace of those precious moments.
Clusters of raspberries and thorns
Susan and Pat holding Nip, early 60’s. All photographs by Walter Roadhouse.
Another great story!
Thank you Ev!
your stories always take me back in time…..the innocence…of our youth….thank u…
Thank you for reading! It’s funny how some little sight, sound, or fragrance can suddenly take you back to a different time. Our memories work in strange ways.
I enjoyed that Sue. Childhood summers were so nice!
Thank you Allyson. It’s funny how childhood summers seemed to last forever – now they fly by!
Sue years ago some friends and I were walking along Egerton St. in London and a man came along with a pickup and asked if we wanted a job. We all said yes and he took us out to a place picking raspberries. We spent the afternoon picking and at the end he took us back to where he picked us up with some $$ in our pockets. Can you imagine that now? However we continued on home and had a great tale of adventure to tell our parents and siblings!1
Hi Kathy, what a great, unique memory! How things have changed! Thanks for sharing.
Your story reminded me of myself and my daughters doing the same things as your Mom and sister were doing in your story
Hi Mary, I’m glad my story brought back some nice memories! I think gardens are a special place for families to work and have fun together.