A mother and son try to keep things going on a farm after the death of husband and father.
Mum Me And Mangos
By Paul McCann
Another dawn and Kookaburras laughed with the promise of rain . The tropical breeze swept through and whispered an ancient memory on the salt bush plains . The river ran again through our property . It had been dry too long . Three years of drought had taken Dad away from us and since his passing Mum and I tried top keep things going on the farm . Feed had arrived too late for the sheep and most of the cattle had been sold at half of what they were worth . Mum needed the money to pay off Dads outstanding debts .
It was still early and we hadn’t got over Dads death but it wasn’t for the want of trying .
After we had sold all the stock the only source of income we had came from the mangos on the property . It was hard after dad died but Mangos kept Mum and I alive under that old rusty tin roof over our heads . It was a harsh existence here in this place . Something’s can be a step away from hell at times .
The flies and dust , the sun and salt bushes . But there’s also a little piece of heaven here too with the wild birds and the river when it flows . If you can stick it out through the dry seasons you can appreciate the desert blooms and the mangos . For six years now Mum and I had been in the mango business .
I still remember the day she gave me a pair of new work boots and said ,
“Well son its just me and you now “.
I looked over at her as she stood at the stove cooking breakfast . I loved her pancakes .
“Hows the weather out there . Are the mangos ready for picking yet son ?”
She never looked over as she turned over the pancakes .
“’I heard the kookaburras early on having a laugh , so I think there’s rain on the way . I should have all the mangos in boxes by tomorrow .”
I went over and stood beside her .
She took the pancakes from the pan and placed then on a plate and handed it to me saying .
“Hows the fence down by the desert gum by the river ?“
With a muttered response due to half a pancake in my mouth I replied ,
“I fixed it yesterday .”
Quick as a flash she asked ,
“Did you see that Brumbie around yet ?
I shook my head and answered ,
“No . I think its gone somewhere else .”
As I began to make my way over to the kitchen table she called after me ,
“Well son tell me then , Cindy doesn’t mind living out here on the property with us ?”
I stopped and looked back and said ,
“No Mum , I told you she can’t wait to leave the big city .“
She took off her apron and said ,
“Ok then . I’ll fix up her room today . Now have your breakfast . There’s a lot to be done today .“
She headed out from the kitchen and into the shed .
As I eat breakfast I though about how times had changed for me thanks to Mum .
The day she wrote that letter to some TV Show in the city called The Bushie wants a bride . I still remember the day all those city girls came out here to meet me and how I fell in love with Cindy .
Now we were to be married and wouldn’t you know it she wants to live here with Mum and I .
Families like us are lucky I guess .
Only three weeks to go and my name will be hers .
Mum likes Cindy and the same goes for Cindy too .
We’re going to have a bush dance after the wedding .
Most people around here have met Cindy . They think she’s great .
Now I had two best friends and thanks God life is good and so are the mangos .
It's almost Christmas. Lynn Basil is writing her last book about a secret entrance into the magical doll land of Sha Bebe that she loves so much. Bagannos have taken over the world! Lynn finally meets her dolls in real life. Can she write in a Secret
Let this coming of age story of a boy named Bean take you back to a simple time. Set in a small southern town in the 1960's, encircled by a river and gleaming white cotton fields.
