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Under the Calabash Tree

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Good Boxing Day (for those who “celebrate the crush of bodies in stores the day after Christmas) my peeps.  Hope you are not suffering from a hangover, food or booze-related!  Took me a good while to get myself going today (giving you the idea that I actually have got myself going at all).  The crash after the excitement, I guess!

Thank you to Rochelle for keeping this here party going even during the holidays.  And thank you to Randy Mazie for allowing us to use this photo – for the second time, it would seem.  Before my time 😉  Wanna play with us?  Click on Rochelle’s name for the how-to’s and then click on the Blue Frog to add your link to your own 100-word creation!

©Randy Mazie

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Under the Calabash Tree

The heat is stifling, made more so by the number of people crammed into our little house.  Family gatherings are wonderful and I love them until the press of bodies causes me to seek relief.

I sneak out the back door, unnoticed.  I want no company.  No one alive, anyway.  Except for the goat.  She is always welcome.

I whistle as I make my way to the shade of the calabash tree. One day I’ll remember to bring a damn chair.

I take out my notebook and pencil and begin to write.  I dream of being the next George Lamming.

101 thoughts on “Under the Calabash Tree”

  2. I know this feeling all too well. Thank you for putting in words exactly what I feel on family get togethers.
    And this song is stuck in my head now……..

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Q,

    Perfect blend of current events, local flavor and . . . for bonus points, you made me Google George Lamming because I had no idea. And how very well played Madame!

    You provided a lock down shine to the 100 words. As per.

    B

    Liked by 2 people

    • B,

      I thank you, kind sir. Been putzing around with this stupid story off and on all day. And since I googled him, I figured others should to 😉

      Muchismas gracias!

      Q

      Liked by 1 person

        • It’s funny how these things work. You know the sorta direction you wanna go in so you do a little search then you change here, modify there and end up with something totally different.
          I suppose I could have pulled a Rochelle and found more deets about an author but I wanted it vague enough to be able to throw in any name 😉
          So. No, not putzy at all… but I did putz to get there!

          Liked by 1 person

  8. How ignorant of me not to know George Lamming’s work. I’ll say it once and I’ll say it again: I have learnt so much from this little club we call the FF’s! Good stuff Dale, I imagine the inspiration would flow in the open air, after being released from the stifling heat and stuffiness inside the house.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. I’m thinking that maybe George Lamming is ‘currently’ incarnated as the goat. (Sorry Mr Lamming, I do realise you’re still alive, but this is a photo and a tale set in this future … is that ok?)

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Bravo Dale. And especially feel this: Hope you are not suffering from a hangover, food or booze-related!  Took me a good while to get myself going today (giving you the idea that I actually have got myself going at all).  The crash after the excitement, I guess!

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Dear Dale,

    Thank you for the introduction to George Lamming. Had to Google him which is never a bad thing. I could feel the press of the crowd and the need for some breathing room. Well done.

    Shalom and hugs,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Rochelle,

      You are most welcome. I introduced myself to him… am now contemplating downloading a copy of one of his books on my brand new Kindle (boys gave me for Christmas).
      Glad I managed to convey that feeling.
      Thank you, mon amie!

      Lotsa love,

      Dale

      Liked by 1 person

  22. You captured the feeling of a long-anticipated party very well. Often, by the time I’ve spent a couple of days planning, buying, preparing, cleaning and making everything just so I’m done the minute the guests arrive! Beautifully done, Dale.

    Liked by 1 person

  23. As we often say around the Ranch, ‘good stuff, Maynard!’ I had to Google George Lamming too and can only say who wouldn’t love a writer from Barbados? Just thinking about his birth country warmed my frozen fingers up from coming in from a dog walk with temps in the teens. Brrrr 🥶
    Well done, friend! And the accompanying photo, quite smile worthy.

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Hello and Merry Christmas everyone! Although I haven’t been able to check out your blog as of late, today i’m back 🙂 And a story I can relate to.. it made me reflect back to a cherry tree my dad had once… See you soon my friend 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  31. Nice one. I read this as a story of a child in the Caribbean dreaming of becoming a writer.
    Have you read Miguel Street by V.S. Naipaul? A collection of short stories, it is perhaps his most light hearted and fun book.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Exactly. Though I hadn’t pictured him as a child. More like a young man.
      No I’ve not read it. Though he was in the list of writers from the Caribbean.

      Like

  40. I could feel the heat and the bodies sticking to one another, and the relief of escaping outside for some time alone. I also looked up George Lamming… what a great way to tie in the setting of the story.
    Je te souhaite une très bonne année 2019!

    Liked by 1 person

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