Chris (growing fruit)
IP Thinking
He’s taking a short break, sitting on an upturned box, with that knife.
He used to love the knife, the way it cuts through bone with a judder and shiver. He has to work it hard, sawing to and fro, to and fro. But he’s tired, so tired of this work which he used to love. Now it’s just a means to an end and — though he’s never said it aloud — he’s thinking that he wants out.
He’s thinking about the wife at home who tries not to care while he brings in some money to pay the bills. She longs to be somewhere warmer – by an azure sea, in a place where she’ll need to learn the language but will never get around to it, even though she’ll spend her days by the infinity pool, with nothing more to do than trail her hand in the water while she sips on sangria until the sun and the crimson drink make her head ache.
He’s thinking about his children who will never join the family firm. Never! With his dying breath he’ll prevent it, though the youngest is already asking, “where have you been all this time, Daddy?” and “what is that big knife you keep in the car for?” and “can I have a go?”
The answer is always “No. It’s for grown ups.” And for now that’s enough, but the questions persist.
He’s thinking of a good answer. Of the right answer. But there isn’t one. And soon it will be time to go back inside and get back to work.
Blog photograph copyrighted to the photographer and used with permission by utata.org. All photographs used on utata.org are stored on flickr.com and are obtained via the flickr API. Text is copyrighted to the author, Debra Broughton and is used with permission by utata.org. Please see Show and Share Your Work
