Grassroots Reflections
Published: 2008 Canadian Short Story Contest
What if I told you a story appropriate for centuries past but which took place in the present? Would you believe me? The tale of a country girl who eagerly flees into the luxuries of the modern era only to return to find her desired solace and contentment among the folds of homespun existence. It’s a funny story really. She came from a farm which nurtured vegetation for specialty businesses. Following the stresses of family separations she sought refuge in the creation of her own life in a small neighbouring city, advancing her scholastic and social interests. At the conclusion of her third year of University while job searching she returned home and began to see the physically demanding life led by her mother more as a manageable challenge than a burden of responsibility. An environmentalist at heart she peered into her own backyard to discover what she longed for in life. In the rapid comings and goings of the modern, progressive world it was easy to lose sight of deeper meaning so she abandoned an uncomfortable sales job for full time assistant in the organic gardening business. A tale containing little flair it’s true but this set-up remained temporary as she set her sights on completion of her higher education for a more desk-related career.
About an hour’s drive from this young woman’s home resided a fellow organic farming family, one which had recently grown through marriage and birth. The female children of both families had been close and the young woman made occasional visits to her more-like-sister-than-friend’s new house to assist with housework and babysitting. Being an open and warm-hearted adopted sister, this new mother enjoyed playing matchmaker for the single young woman who came to help her, finding a suitable candidate in their recently acquired tenant and farmhand. None involved could have imagined the consequences of placing this trio in each other’s company for two-and-a-half days. To the surprise of both single man and woman they found themselves attracted physically and mentally to one another, bonding over cups of tea on a concrete porch in the summer sun and amongst overcrowded strawberry beds. When shyness seemed doomed to keep the two on a snail’s path to forming any understanding, the matchmaking friend’s efforts aided to ensure that by the end of the second evening the young couple were aware of one another's interests and bold enough to draw comfort from physical connection, discreetly holding hands on the couch with hockey on the television.
A way of life which had seemed to hold only intense labour with little security alongside a history of familial discontent gradually revealed its priceless qualities; every barefooted stride to nurture a fresh plant or dish washed after the consumption of a meal fit to feed a small army gave concrete purpose to existence. The information age comes with numerous advantages in the pursuit and acquisition of knowledge. Distancing the self from what is most basic, however, guarantees conflict both amongst people and between humanity and its environments. While searching for meaning in her own life, this young woman learned the hidden pleasure of working at something incredibly rewarding though fleeting and, in doing so, came to find like-minded individuals to share laughter and love. Getting back to roots is not only critical on the level of global survival but also to inner peace, too easily given up in the rush for unnecessary complexity.
© Katarina Claire E.R.
What if I told you a story appropriate for centuries past but which took place in the present? Would you believe me? The tale of a country girl who eagerly flees into the luxuries of the modern era only to return to find her desired solace and contentment among the folds of homespun existence. It’s a funny story really. She came from a farm which nurtured vegetation for specialty businesses. Following the stresses of family separations she sought refuge in the creation of her own life in a small neighbouring city, advancing her scholastic and social interests. At the conclusion of her third year of University while job searching she returned home and began to see the physically demanding life led by her mother more as a manageable challenge than a burden of responsibility. An environmentalist at heart she peered into her own backyard to discover what she longed for in life. In the rapid comings and goings of the modern, progressive world it was easy to lose sight of deeper meaning so she abandoned an uncomfortable sales job for full time assistant in the organic gardening business. A tale containing little flair it’s true but this set-up remained temporary as she set her sights on completion of her higher education for a more desk-related career.
About an hour’s drive from this young woman’s home resided a fellow organic farming family, one which had recently grown through marriage and birth. The female children of both families had been close and the young woman made occasional visits to her more-like-sister-than-friend’s new house to assist with housework and babysitting. Being an open and warm-hearted adopted sister, this new mother enjoyed playing matchmaker for the single young woman who came to help her, finding a suitable candidate in their recently acquired tenant and farmhand. None involved could have imagined the consequences of placing this trio in each other’s company for two-and-a-half days. To the surprise of both single man and woman they found themselves attracted physically and mentally to one another, bonding over cups of tea on a concrete porch in the summer sun and amongst overcrowded strawberry beds. When shyness seemed doomed to keep the two on a snail’s path to forming any understanding, the matchmaking friend’s efforts aided to ensure that by the end of the second evening the young couple were aware of one another's interests and bold enough to draw comfort from physical connection, discreetly holding hands on the couch with hockey on the television.
A way of life which had seemed to hold only intense labour with little security alongside a history of familial discontent gradually revealed its priceless qualities; every barefooted stride to nurture a fresh plant or dish washed after the consumption of a meal fit to feed a small army gave concrete purpose to existence. The information age comes with numerous advantages in the pursuit and acquisition of knowledge. Distancing the self from what is most basic, however, guarantees conflict both amongst people and between humanity and its environments. While searching for meaning in her own life, this young woman learned the hidden pleasure of working at something incredibly rewarding though fleeting and, in doing so, came to find like-minded individuals to share laughter and love. Getting back to roots is not only critical on the level of global survival but also to inner peace, too easily given up in the rush for unnecessary complexity.
© Katarina Claire E.R.
