Dear All -
This week I've had a cold which gives me an excuse to be lazy and not write anything.
So I'll share a story I wrote with you. Have a great week! - Kevin
The Avocado Tree
Kevin Crittenden August
2011
For Sholo - my sister, friend, teacher
and inspiration for this story
There are many who claim that this world has but seven
continents. The schools have taught this since time immemorial and, were you to
count them on any globe, you would see the truth of it. But there are different
truths, and so you must bear with me when I tell you that the story I relate
now takes place on the eighth continent which lies far beyond the seventh sea.
In this land of which I speak once lived a young couple who had
disdained wealth and, against the better judgment of their parents, family and
friends, had married for love. Oh the parents had tried to reason with them,
relating terrible stories about the ravages of poverty and how love flies out
the window when the wolf is at the door. In vain they had tried to convince
their children to better their station in life by choosing mates from
well-to-do families. But the children were really no longer children but had
become masters of their own fate and so lovingly, but firmly, defied their
parents’ heartfelt wishes and joined their lives together. And so the two became one.
In the course of time, they were blessed with two handsome sons
which greatly increased their joy. But joy alone does not fill an empty belly
so work they must for the spectre of poverty that they had been warned about
was becoming a harsh reality. And this was the situation as their sons grew to
be good men and true, finding their own happiness with brides of their own.
Time continues to pass in all lands and so the couple, now well
into middle age, were left to themselves once again, as poor in wealth as ever
but richly filled with the contentment which springs from a happy union.
On one fine Spring day, while visiting the village, the husband
chanced to spot a merchant in the marketplace selling a variety of fruit trees,
vines, herbs and bushes. The bushes were covered with aromatic and colorful
flowers of the most beautiful description.
Amidst this glorious profusion, off
to one side, was a most unusual tree and it was this tree that caught the
husband’s eye. For it was a dwarf avocado tree! He had never before encountered
such a thing as a dwarf avocado tree. Always, avocados grow to be huge trees,
overshadowing everything else around. His wife was very fond of avocados but
their tiny allotment of land had no room for something as large as a full-sized
avocado tree. Thoughts of his bride of 35 years filled his mind; how she had
given up so much when she had joined her hand to his. How he longed to see that
joyous light in her eyes, the roses blooming in her cheeks, that dazzling smile
which had first captivated his heart and to hear the delighted clap of her
hands as he presented her such an unusual gift as a dwarf avocado tree. So
putting aside all practical thoughts, he soon struck a bargain with the
merchant and proudly carted his prize home.
Now the wife was more circumspect about money than her husband
but did not allow her concern to show. Rather, she participated fully in the
joy of the occasion, so as not to dampen her husband’s joy. Together they chose
an ideal location to plant the tree where it could receive an ample amount of
sun and easily draw up fresh water from a nearby spring. The area around it was
tended faithfully, the weeds were cleared away and nutritious materials were
dug into the soil to provide sustenance. Truly, this was an ideal spot for the
tree and it began to thrive as soon as it was planted. Beyond the physical
comforts the tree enjoyed, it also was nourished by the energies of love and
kinship between the husband and wife which extended beyond the walls of the
rude hut in which they lived.
Still, one can push away the realities of life only so long and
soon it became time to deal with the debt that had been incurred by the rash
purchase of the avocado tree. Well, as predicted long ago by their worried
parents, they hadn’t been able to set aside any money in savings so there was
no recourse but for both the husband and wife to take on additional work. The
husband, still somewhat spry though advanced in years, sought work as a laborer
but jobs were rather difficult to come by as the townspeople favored sturdy
youths with stout arms and legs. Meanwhile, the wife beseeched the upper class
women of the village for washing, mending, ironing and housecleaning chores.
And so life went on this way over the course of several years;
the man and his wife toiling away to pay their debt which, due to the interest
on the loan, never seemed to get any smaller. At the end of each day, they
pooled together their meager earnings and, if it had been a good day, put aside
what they could towards the repayment. Hugging each other, they comforted
themselves with the thought that better days lay ahead and this hope gave them
renewed energy to meet the demands of the morrow.
Meanwhile, the avocado tree basked and prospered in the special
place of honor given to it in the garden. Now what no one knew or even
suspected was that this particular tree was the home of an indwelling yakshini
or spirit which soon grew conscious of the couple and the wonderful care and
devotion given to the tree.
And, as the tree matured, the spirit could sense
the feelings of love between the husband and wife but she also was cognizant of
the feelings of despair and anxiety created by the crushing burden of the debt
that ever rippled around the edges of their relationship. This was troubling to
the yakshini and so she pondered for awhile.
Being of a most benevolent nature, the yakshini wanted to reward
the couple for their faithful stewardship so decided to bestow a gift on them. From
then on, she decided, the tree would produce a veritable cornucopia of perfect
avocados each season. And, as it grew older, the crop would only increase, even
though the tree was only a dwarf.
And so it happened this way. Ever since the couple had planted
the tree, it had grown larger and more beautiful but as yet no fruit had
appeared. This was not thought unusual, for avocado trees do take awhile to
begin producing. But this year, when the husband and wife went out to tend
their garden, they noticed something very odd. As usual, as they approached it,
the tree had the appearance of a dwarf, that is, compact and smallish in
stature. Yet when they drew close and stood next to its trunk, the tree seemed
immense, with delicate branches that gracefully arched over their heads to
provide a beautiful, leafy bower. More than that, the surprised couple saw that
the avocado tree had produced several dozen perfect fruits! When had this
happened?
Delighted, the man carefully harvested an avocado and presented it to
his wife, who held it for a long time, admiring the perfect shape, size and
color. No blemish could be found anywhere on its skin. Soon afterwards, they
also discovered the perfection of the avocado’s texture and taste.
They quickly harvested the fruits and took them to market the
very next day where they sold very quickly because of their fine qualities.
And, for the first time, the couple was able to put a substantial payment
towards the principle on their debt. It seemed that a cloud was finally being lifted from their
hearts. The yakshini noticed this change and felt it to be good. And so the
next year saw a greatly increased yield, again of perfect fruits, which quickly
sold in the marketplace. This time, the man and his wife were able to give some
of the fruits to their friends and neighbors who brought their own bounty in
return. Now, the couple was able to enjoy a variety of fresh fruits and
vegetables. As they began to eat better, they began to feel better and indeed
it seemed like life was improving. As always, they continued to lovingly tend
the avocado tree with its indwelling yakshini which felt their goodness and
continued to bless them with fine and abundant crops of avocados.
The day soon came when their debt was completely repaid and they
were able to finally set aside some savings for their old age. But only a
modest amount of money is necessary to ensure a comfortable living for a couple
with only modest needs and soon they were able to quit their extra jobs. Everyone
in the neighboring villages by now had heard about the wonderful avocados and
eagerly lined up on market day, so the couple were always able to sell every
fruit they had.
In this manner, they soon became wealthy, which eventually
attracted the notice of the king. The king thought that the husband must be an
exceptional man and wanted to know more about him. So courtiers were dispatched
to request the husband’s presence at court to which the husband willingly
obliged as, being good and wise, the king was looked on with favor by the
entire populace.
The palace was, as you might expect, the grandest and most
lavish building in the whole land and the husband had never set foot inside it
before. So he dawdled and gawked at everything he saw, trying to memorize it
all so he could relate it to his wife later on. She would want to know every
detail, of course. Finally, he was ushered into the presence of the king
himself who welcomed him warmly, for that was the kind of king he was. After
asking the husband some details about his life and family, the king broached
the subject that was foremost in his thoughts. He asked the husband how it came
to be that a poor tenant farmer could improve his lot in life so very much and
in so short a time. It could not
only be through hard work, stated the king, since most of the tenant farmers
also worked very hard and certainly they were still poor. Could it have been
through some sort of inheritance?
The husband laughed gently and told the king that no, he was
alone in the world now except for his wife and sons so had no expectation of
any inheritance. And then he began telling the story of the avocado tree and
how it must be inhabited by a most benevolent yakshini who continued to bestow
such favors upon the couple. He told the king how each year, the bounty of
perfect avocados grew by leaps and bounds and that no disease or animals ever
attacked the tree. He continued on to tell how he sold some of the fruits at
market for a fair price and that he gave others to his neighbors and relatives
who, in turn, shared their bounty with the couple. And why, mused the king, should the tree continue to bestow
such a bounty each year? To this the husband replied that truly, he did not
know except that the tree was always tended as best they could in the same
manner as all the other plants in their garden.
Just then, the
king’s wise counselor stepped forward and stated that he believed there was yet
another reason for the tree’s benevolence. Continuing on, the counselor said
that truly, the tree had experienced the wonderful bond of love between the
couple and the yakshini was nourished by that love. Delightedly, the king
clapped his hands together and then appointed the husband to be the Chief
Steward of all the king’s lands. As a token of his new station, the husband
received a gift of gold and precious stones which the husband promptly had made
into finely wrought rings, bracelets, necklaces and earrings for his wife. The
wife, meanwhile, was very excited to hear about all these things but thought
that such beautiful jewelry should be worn on one’s wedding day and so put it
aside for her first-born granddaughter.
The husband now thought that he had no proper gift for his wife
and was somewhat despondent, but a wise woman knows her husband and so she
quickly reassured him that no jewelry could compare to the priceless treasure
she had in him. And so the couple
continued to prosper even more than before, sharing their bounty with those
less fortunate. Under the stewardship of the husband, the land also prospered,
bringing wealth and prosperity to the people at a level never seen before in
the kingdom.
And the avocado tree, with the benevolent yakshini, continues to
prosper to this day and you will never find such beautiful avocados anywhere
else in this world.
The Avocado Tree - Chapter II
Kevin Crittenden December
2011
Our story has not yet really begun, for now I wish to relate how
the husband and wife came to meet and, for that, we need to turn our gaze
backwards in time. Imagine the couple now as the years flow backwards. Do you
see them standing straighter? leaner? less wrinkled? the grey dissolving like
mist from their hair? And here
we’ll stop, at a time just before they have met. Regard them in the fullness of
their youth. How silken her long, raven tresses seem as she reposes before the
mirror, lovingly brushing the comb slowly through her hair. Now notice the
sparkle in his eyes and the spring in his step as he nimbly gathers wood for
the evening fire.
For you see, neither are of noble birth, so the course of love
for them must travel a different path than that of princes and princesses who
have few of the same obstacles that hinder the lives of their subjects.
But look at him now. Where did the boy go that saw girls only as
chattering nuisances with silly ideas and impractical clothes? How differently
he sees the young women now, the budding fullness of their alluring lips and
flashing eyes, the fascinating curves of their graceful necks, the daintiness
of their hands and delicate wrists and the marvelous transformation of their
bodies. How true it is that for men, women are the most beautiful things that
they will ever see.
And now look at her. The little girl that saw boys only as
annoying, dirty ruffians who couldn’t sit still for a moment or hold an
intelligent conversation. Where has she gone? How differently she sees the
young men now, noting how tall they’ve grown and secretly admiring their
strength, skill and confidence.
But, alas, they could not see themselves with our eyes, so did
not know how beautiful they both were.
‘Who could love me,’ he thinks, ‘with my scrawny body and ugly
countenance? Everything I say sounds foolish, like a half-wit. I wish I could
be more like the popular fellows that the girls seem to admire.’
And so he goes about his business in solitude and secret shame.
‘Who could love me,’ she thinks, ‘with these fat thighs and
work-worn hands? My cooking tastes terrible and my needlework resembles a
spider’s web. How I wish I could be more like the pretty and popular girls that
know how to attract the young men.’
And so she goes about her business with a heavy heart and
wistful smile.
One day, she needs to go on an errand for her mother which takes
her through the same part of the forest where he is gathering wood for the evening
fire. Mildly distracted by the chirping of bulbuls in a nearby kadam tree, she
comes around a bend to a small clearing, where she suddenly sees him picking up
a few sticks to add to the bundle he is carrying. Alerted by her footsteps he looks up.
She stops.
Neither is sure what to do or say, yet neither wants to leave.
Finally he manages to blurt out ‘Hello’, as his eyes try to
capture the beauty before him.
‘Hello’, she replies, her eyes demurely downcast as she has been
taught, wishing she could fully return his gaze. In her mind, she replays his
image as she first saw him.
An awkward silence grows as he desperately tries to think what
lines the popular boys would use at this point. Coming up empty, he finally
lets that go and lets the poet within him fill the space between them with
language which entrances her. She responds in kind, her lyrical voice filling
and captivating his heart. They finally part, agreeing to meet again the next
day in the clearing.
That evening, he seemed distracted which attracted his mother’s
attention, and so she began to talk about his day while slowly stirring the
dal. Finally, after a bit of gentle prodding, he told her about his meeting
with the most marvelous girl. His mother had known that this day was coming and
felt joy mixed with sorrow, knowing that his future happiness meant that their
lives must now diverge. Life goes on and her son must someday leave to become a
man his parents could be proud of. Mother and Father then talked together. Naturally,
they worried about his ability to support a family and hoped that the girl came
from a well-to-do family.
At the same time, in another household, her mother noticed the
change in her daughter – the flushed cheeks, constant smile, and distracted
manner. She began talking to her daughter in the way that parents do and again,
the story was related of her meeting with the most handsome and intelligent
young man. Her mother had dreamed of this day with the promise of a secure
future for her daughter and the possibility of future generations. Mother and
Father then talked together. Naturally, they were concerned about the ability
of this unknown young man to support their daughter and any children and hoped
that he came from a more prosperous family.
Thoughts of wealth are nowhere to be found that next day in the
sunlit clearing where the couple meets, for (although they do not realize it
yet) they indeed are a couple. How anxiously they had waited for this meeting,
neither one knowing what might happen. He gathers wood again and nervously
drops a few sticks upon her approach. As one, they bend down to retrieve the
sticks.
Their hands meet.
Their eyes meet.
She does not look down today.
When they depart the clearing this time, they leave behind the
remnants of their childhood.
Time passed – a few days, weeks or months. Lovers do not count
these things, they only count the minutes apart from each other. They knew now
that their lives would be intertwined forever if only . . .
…if only they could support themselves. Well-meaning friends
gave practical advice:
‘You cannot marry any girl until you have enough money to buy
some land and build a house. And how will you earn that money? What can you
do?’
‘Reject this boy, there are plenty of handsome young men from
wealthier families. How can this one support you? And what will you do when the
children come?’
Their parents advised against the marriage as well:
‘Surely you can find a girl with a better dowry? How else will
you live? You cannot stay here if you are married! Anyway, there is plenty of
time for that later, right now your father and I need you here. We are getting
old and you must help us.’
‘Oh, Shona, this is only the first boy you’ve met! You will soon
forget him when you find someone more handsome and wealthy who can care for a
wife and family. You know we cannot afford a good dowry and you will need one
to take care of yourself if a crisis comes. Also, we know nothing about his
family; who knows what kind of people they are? Probably itinerant
chattee-makers, living on the road. What kind of a life is that for our
daughter?’
Love overcomes objections like these but the hardest trials come
from within.
He arrives early at the clearing and his heart quickens as she
approaches from the shade of a neem tree. They now stand together, each not
knowing how to begin. Finally, hesitatingly, he begins to speak.
‘Oh,’ he says, casting his eyes to the ground, ‘I have been
selfish in wanting you for myself. You can do much better than me. With me,
your future is likely to be a life of struggle and poverty.
My family is not
rich and will not help us. I have been accepted on a trial basis as a teacher
at the school, you know how I love children, but there is little money in
teaching and you will never be a rich memsaab as you should be.’
She listens respectfully to him while fidgeting with her palloo
and responds:
‘Listen, Babuji,
what nonsense you are speaking. Do you think that gold and silver can be more
important than love? Do you think I could be happy knowing that my dear husband
was chasing money at a job he detests instead of following his heart and
blessing the lives of children? Put all such thoughts into a hollow gourd and
toss them into the sea. But I, too, need to say something to you. My family is
not rich so cannot afford a dowry for me other than these bangles I am wearing.
Please do not be angry. I am not as pretty as the other girls, surely they
would be standing in line for you and . . .’
She is unable to complete her thoughts as he bends down and
seals her lips with his kisses.
Soon afterwards, despite the continuing objections of parents,
family and friends they did set a date for the wedding. Eventually, yielding to
the strength of true love, their parents, family and friends changed course and
joyously supported the couple with a wedding celebration that was remembered
with fondness throughout the village for years to come.
