On an Afternoon Walk - Back Alley Character

This guy is a character. I snapped his photo yesterday afternoon on my walk. One portrait among one or two others in the back alley, he seems pretty ok with his surroundings. Perpetually a charmer and probably a tough guy, he can handle anything that blows his way. 

“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, 

because your character is what you really are, 

while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”

~ John Wooden

Rumpled

Walking from the bus into the bank I had avoided mud puddles, scattered among melting snow patches. Inside the bank, I stepped into the queue. The smell of old cigarette smoke surrounded him. I wondered at the tiny brown spots, evenly spaced, straight up the back of his beige, too big jacket. His clothes ill fitting, even his black cap was rumpled. He turned his head briefly. In profile, I saw a young face, pleasant, smooth and sharply defined, a shock of black hair revealed when he adjusted his cap. Tall and thin, he sagged under the weight of his late November clothes. I wondered where he had locked his bike up in this busy downtown.

“Your image isn’t your character. Character is what you are as a person.”

~ Derek Jeter, American baseball player

On my Way to the Bus Stop - A Cartoon Character in Snow

This little one, just resting in bristly foliage and enjoying the warmer (as in not as cold) weather, caught my eye as I walked past. I just about ignored her, but if clouds in the sky can look like dragons or rabbits, them why can’t snow look like a charming cartoon character? By now, several hours later, she may have acquired dimples from freezing rain!

“When you least expect it, nature has cunning ways 

of finding our weakest spot.”

~ Micheal Stuhlbarg -  Mr. Perlman

Chapter One, Episode 58 - Man to Man - Situationally Theirs

July 03, 2020
Review, Edit and Update
While there were no typo's or punctuation issues, I did write in many more details regarding story development and dialogue, specifically Samuel's speech patterns. It required an addition of about 200 words. 

Man to Man

A blustery day, Dez walked with Matt out towards the apple orchard at the back of the property. They had to pass the toolshed on the way. “Matt, I know nothing about this orchard and little about apples except that they taste good. But there is one man on this property that knows a lot more than most about this orchard. His name is Samuel. He doesn’t talk much unless he gets going about something that interests him.” Dez recounted the story Samuel told her about the original beehives and a very young apple orchard.

“So his grandfather told him this story?”

“Yes, and he swears it’s true. Digby even says it’s true. His father told him so when Digby was a teenager. I need to go up to the house to see when Cook wants to have supper…..You are staying for supper, aren’t you?…..I’ll introduce you to Samuel before I go up and you can talk while I’m talking to Cook.” Dez didn’t know whether she wanted Matt to accept a supper invitation or not,. She wanted him to stay, but she didn’t want all the teasing she would get from Cook afterwards. “Isn’t he a good looking young man?” So she didn’t push Matt in one direction or another.

“Supper?…..I’d love to stay, I’ve been getting tired of my own cooking with all the restaurants just opened on Tuesday. And I’d really like to have a good home cooked meal.” Dez’s heart flipped and it flopped. But she was a big girl and apparently a mature woman, so she could handle Cook. Or at least stay out of her way for a couple of days. 

“Wonderful! I’ll tell Cook while I’m up there to set another place.” Dez also knew she would hear a character assessment - or assassination - of Matt after he had left the estate.

“So this Samuel maybe knows more about the trees? The one time I was out here with you when you thought you saw a ghost, I did see the orchard. A quick look told me that trees at the front of the orchard are not that old and seem to have been taken care of, but not for a long time. If there is any disease in the back of the orchard, it may have spread.” 

“Will we have to get rid of all the trees? Can we just spray them?”

“Remember, if you’re going to have bees, there has to be very limited pesticide  use or none at all.”

“Here’s Samuel. ‘Samuel, I’d like you to meet Matt Hamilton. He has an apple orchard as well as an apiary on the other side of Hartley.’  ‘Matt, this is Samuel, Emmie’s yardman, gardener and all around jack of all trades.’

It was natural for Samuel to keep his distance from new people, so the fact that Matt stood well distanced was not a problem. On the other hand, Samuel felt more confident that he may be able to trust this new person. 

“I’ll see you two later. Samuel do you need anything from the kitchen? No? I’ll be back.”

~~~~~

There was a long silence while the two men studied each other. Samuel set his dirt encrusted tools in his old wheelbarrow. He brushed the dirt from his hands on his jeans. "Let's go take a look at them trees.”

“Samuel, I need to know about the trees. Not the orchard, but the trees.”

“Good. That’s what I’m about to tell you.” As if reading each other’s mind, they both turned and walked to the back of the orchard. 

“Orchard only covers about five acres. It’s not a big’un.” 

“That’s what Dez told me. But she really couldn’t tell me much more than that. What I’ve seen is younger healthier tress at the front. As we walk to the back I’m seeing a bit more disease.”

“And these old trees haven’t felt the trim of pruning shears for far too long.”

“Do you know where the oldest tree is?”

“Sure do. I even got a hiding because of somethin’ I did when I was a boy.”

“Really? Show me.”

It’s this one all the way to the back. I used to come in here and play when I was a youngster. Them days are long gone.” Samuel  chuckled. “That ol' tree was my favourite. See that one with the big flat rock right beside it?”

“A flat rock?..... oh, yes - I see it” Matt followed the line from Samuel's gnarled fingers.

“Nobody’s tried pullin' that big speckled thing out. Possible now with a big tractor. She's pretty far back for big equipment.”

“So what did you do to get a hiding?” Matt liked Samuel. He didn't spend a lot of time with words, but you never had to guess what he meant.

Samuel was over by the old tree. He beckoned to Matt. “Here. Look up there, Matt. See that little scar on the lead branch. You can barely see it anymore. Well, I had me a penknife that my gran’pappy gave me for Christmas. Y’see, I’d climb up there on that rock and then shinny up the tree. It was already an old apple tree. No one knew who planted it or when. Growin' all by itself, it started this orchard. See these four or five trees around back here? All from cuttin's that first Mr.Beaufort took. Babied and planted 'em. Some planted were a nice breakfast for deer wanderin' past.  My grand’pappy rounded up some wire fence and wrapped it all around those that were spared. Grand'pappy and ol' Mr. Beaufort worked and worked to get the orchard started.”

“Good for them. Those two sound like quite a pair. There doesn’t look to be too much disease on the trees. Well, maybe that one that's sort of off on it’s own. It’s too early in the year to start any pruning. Maybe the shoots close to the bottom.” Matt was fascinated by not just the trees, but by Samuel and his obvious affection for them.

“I suppose clearing all the grass and weeds would make 'em happy. Better drinkin' water.” As he spoke, Samuel was pulling away the overgrowth from his childhood climbing tree.

“Taking that one tree out would make a nice little clearing for the beehives.” Matt had noticed one of the old trees was especially diseased. So much leaf damage the tree looked lacy. He walked over to examine it more closely. "Samuel come take a look."  

"Yep, we better get a tree doctor out here. More disease thru' here." The two men went tree to tree, nodding, talking, pointing, laughing obviously enjoying each other's company.

~~~~~

Dez had returned to the orchard. But when she saw the two men talking with such animation, she stood still and just listened. “Dez! I didn’t see you there. Samuel’s been telling me about his favourite climbing tree. He showed me the oldest trees. There’s one that will have to be taken out….it’s that one over on its own. The trunk is sounding hollow, lots of leaf damage and really sparse leafing. I suspect the other trees are affected. Samual says some of the trees haven’t put on any apples for years.”

“It does seem you two got along just fine. What about the rest of the orchard? Can you recommend an expert, Matt? ” Dez was concerned. Another big expense she had to tell Emmie about.

“We didn’t really finish examine the whole orchard - sorry about that -" Matt smiled sheepishly. "Samuel does tell a good story. But I there are some things you can get done in the next week or so. Oh, and I'll have a business card for the company that takes care of my trees. They should be able to give you a diagnosis for your orchard." Matt was flipping through a small packet of business cards from his wallet.

“Supper will be ready in 30 minutes. Samuel, are you coming up for supper? We can talk about the details over supper.” Dez just assumed that Samuel would come for supper, but didn't think much about it after she and Matt walked away.

“No. Tell Cook thank you anyway. And tell her if it’s roast, I’d like a thick sandwich for tomorrow. Gettin' back to my tools now. Nice t'meet you Matt. You’ll be out here again?”

“Good to meet you as well, Samuel. Yes, I’ll be out here from time to time when Miss Dez needs me. Right Dez?” Dez smiled and silently planned Matt’s next visit.

“If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.”

~ Rudyard Kipling,  The Collected Works

Chapter One, Episode 28 - Full of Thoughts - Situationally Theirs

June 03, 2020

Review, Edit and Update

Full of Thoughts from April 21st, shows the character of Martha,  alone with her worries in Covid19 the required isolation of her home. She decides to act and contact Digby, the butler about her job security, then left with many questions and a few ideas - along with a cup of tea and a cookie.

Little needed to be altered in this episode, merely some punctuation, spacing and unnecessary wording.

Full of Thoughts 

Hartley seemed empty. A ghost town where once there had been foot traffic, bicycle traffic and just plain traffic. Cars, trucks, service vehicles and buses. But inside homes, families were living differently. Moms and dads working from home while helping their kids to keep up with their schooling. Moms and dads unemployed while helping their kids to keep up with their homework, while at the same time doing home fix-ups that had been waiting for ‘someday’.

Martha watched the news, always paying attention for any changes to the government’s plans, and of course to Public Health recommendations and projections. As far as she knew, her job was safe. She’d had no indication from Mrs. Beaufort that their jobs were in jeopardy, but it did weigh on her mind. Especially when she heard about the many unemployed and how they were struggling. Did she have enough retirement money? Would she have to give up this little cottage on the Beaufort Estate? If she did where would she go? To live with her daughter, Joanie? So many questions that had no answers. Martha decided to start asking questions. After all, that’s the only way a body can find any answers. She started with an email to Digby. Had he heard anything from Mrs.Beaufort? 

Digby,

I do hope everything is well with you and you are about ready to get back to work. We seem to have gone past our needed isolation time. In that case, we should be able to go back to work as long as we keep the distancing, wash our hands and not come to work if we don’t feel well. Have you heard anything from Mrs. Beaufort? 

Take care of yourself,

Martha

Martha,

Yes, I am well. I do hope you are well also. You are correct ~ I am definitely ready to get back to work. We have ‘served our time’. As a matter of fact, I heard from Mrs. Beaufort only moments ago. She actually called me to ask when we were to have our next staff meeting. I told her that it should have been last week, so we would have one as soon as we returned to work. She seemed very pleased, and asked if she could attend. 

I am going to send out an email to all the regular staff that we’ll meet early next week. Mrs. Beaufort made another very strange request. She would like our ideas on what we could do for the community. She went on to say that she would like us all to work together. 

I also asked her about our job security, as I know that must be playing on everyone’s mind. Without the least bit of hesitation, she said that all of our jobs are secure.

So, Martha, get your thinking cap on and dig up those ideas you’ve had for how we can help the community.

Be well,

Yours sincerely,

Digby

Martha had been studying on Digby’s email ever since. She had gotten one answer. Her job was not in jeopardy. But now she had another question. What could we do for the community? As a Housekeeper, on a Housekeeper’s salary, she couldn’t do much. But together? Martha knew every inch of the Beaufort home. It was a home with so much emptiness inside those walls. Could they help with housing? No. That didn’t seem right. It could only a be temporary solution. There were at least two bedrooms, but only two bedrooms doesn't help a whole lot of the community. When she went over the budget in her head, the food budget often was quite large. Would something like meals for the homeless help? Of course Cook would love that idea. A temporary laundry service? At that point, Martha’s brain was hurting from all this thinking. A cup of tea seemed a good idea, so Martha put the kettle on. Got out the china teacup and saucer from her grandmother’s china. While the kettle boiled, she went looking for a cookie or biscuit. Alas, there were none to be found, But wait! What’s that? Tucked in the back of her cupboard was her secret stash cookie jar. There was one cookie left in there. It was only a week old and had chocolate chips in it. With her cup of tea and that cookie, she may be able to brainstorm again.

Some of the things that we have to think about……Martha’s quick mind started up again with her first sip of hot tea. First of all, and of course, Covid19 and any precautions from Dr. Bonnie Henry, our chief Public Health officer. So, do we want outsiders coming into the house and how do we do that safely? Will we all have to wear masks? Probably not. I hope not. Is there anything about the house itself that needs fixing? Nothing important and we can get that work done ~ with Mrs. Beaufort’s approval of course. Martha did seem to think in details, which was why she was good at her job. She kept the house running efficiently and with little waste.

Martha checked her kitchen clock. 9:30p. Time for her to get into that nightgown she told Elizabeth about. She had a good book on her night stand that was waiting for her. She tidied her kitchen and her sitting room before going to her room. I’ll just finish these last two rows before I go to bed. In the now tidy sitting room, Martha picked up a knitted dishcloth she had been working on, sat down and the knitting needles began to click faster and faster as Martha wondered how they could help. Mrs, Beaufort held the pursestrings, so ultimately it would be up to her. But she wanted our ideas. If I could have my way, and I held the pursestrings, what would I do? I would use the empty beds in the two bedrooms for somebody that needed them. I would have a kind of soup kitchen on the weekends to help the homeless. I would build a playground on the front lawn with everything a good distance apart so community kids could come and play. I think that’s enough for tonight. Anything else will have to come to me in my sleep.

Martha ate the last bite of cookie and drained the last drop of tea. She rinsed the cup and saucer under the tap and set them upside down on the draining board. Shutting out the kitchen lights, she disappeared down the hallway into her room and shut the door. She did get in bed with the intention of reading her book The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Funny, fanciful and a mystery. But the book fell on her chest. With the lamp still burning, her gentle snore softened the night.

“What is interesting and important happens mostly 

in secret, in places where there is no power.”

Michail Ondaatje,  The Cat’s Table

Movie Review: Harriet directed by Kasi Lemmons

Many historical movies are dramatized so much that the true history of the main character becomes a very minor detail. I first heard of Harriet Tubman in relation to her role as a nurse in the U.S. Civil War. I also learned that Harriet Tubman, due to a head injury, possibly had epilepsy with visions and an occasional collapse. The movie Harriet depicts much greater depth to Harriet Tubman’s story. After some research this afternoon reading reviews and historical information I can tell you that the reviews are mixed and some of the story is not historically accurate. There are a couple of reasons for this that I could discern. The first is that Harriet (Cynthia Erivo) was, in fact, illiterate, with much information not written in her own hand. The second is that a life history, condensed into two hours on screen, has created a need to compress time. The two characters that were mainly composites of individuals from that time in history were Gideon Brodess (Joe Alwyn) and Marie Buchanan (Janelle Monaé). 

Despite any veering from historical accuracy, I enjoyed this movie. It was an accurate, if sometimes very brutal, depiction of a strong, courageous woman who became a staunch abolitionist before the Civil War, beginning with her own escape from her slave owners. Slave owners who should have freed her based on the legal wishes of their deceased father. This part is detailed at the beginning of the movie and signalled Minty’s (Araminta/Harriet) run to freedom. She left her husband, who was dubiously free in a hostile environment, afraid he would be re-enslaved if they were caught. I’m not sure many of us can imagine what a ‘run to freedom’ would entail, but some of the safe stops trailed by dogs and slave trackers, without out food or shelter made it very real. Harriet had to learn to hold her head high ‘look like she belonged', learn how to shoot, and learn how to dress. In short, learn how to protect herself in a very hostile world. She first fled to Philedelphia to the Abolitionist Society and later navigated the Underground Railroad and became a ‘conductor’ getting people to St. Catherines, Ont. After her first year of freedom, she returned to the plantation where her family was to bring her husband, John Tubman (Zachary Momoh) to freedom. Things did not go as planned. He had remarried thinking her drowned after she jumped off a bridge to avoid the slave trackers. Questioning her God, whom she had complete faith in, she was torn as to her next steps. Back in slave country, her husband lost to her, it was her brothers and three others that she led to safety in Philadelphia. In her long years as an abolitionist aka Moses, she led at least 70 slaves out of slavery. Her mission continued with the Union Army in many roles. Spy, nurse, and the first woman to lead an armed expedition in the Civil War. 750 slaves were freed in that action. She survived it all and died at age 91 in 1913.

Harriet Tubman’s life was full and extraordinary. To pack such a life into a limited two hours took, in my mind, great skill. I am torn to discount any fictions that were created if it furthered our awareness of Harriet Tubman’s story.

“Many of you don’t know slavery first-hand. But I remember. 

I’ve heard their groans, heard their tears.”

~ Harriet Tubman, Harriet - the movie

(speaking to the Abolitionist Society)

Directed by Kasi Lemmons 

Writing Credits: Gregory Allen Howard

                         Kasi Lemmons

Partial Cast

Cynthia Erivo - Harriet Tubman (Minty)

Zachary Momoh - John Tubman, Harriet’s husband

Michael Marunde - Edward Brodess

Jennifer Nettles - Eliza Brodess, plantation owner’s wife

Joe Alwyn - Gideon Brodess, plantation owner’s son

Clarke Peters - Ben Ross, Harriet’s father

Vanessa Bell Calloway - Rit Ross, Harriet’s mother

Leslie Odom Jr. - William Still

Janelle Monaé - Marie Buchanan

Vondie Curtis-Hall - Reverend Green, pastor on plantation

Henry Hunter Hall - Walter, slave tracker

Omar J. Dorsey - Bigger Long, slave tracker

Book Review: In the Skin of a Lion by Michael Ondaatje

This book caught me by surprise and is not an easy review to write. Michael Ondaatje is a well-known and lauded Canadian author. My interest in the Skin of a Lion was peaked merely because of his name and fame. Reading In the Skin of A Lion did not live up to my expectations of a story well told. It does not follow a linear path, but jumps about from one place to another. The writing of each place, each character and each situation is quite beautiful, full of poetic depth of detail so that I was in each moment. Scenes of loggers, tanners and construction workers who have faded into Canadian history, scenes of romantic relationships, with their attendant struggles and joys seem to have inadequately defined connections to the story’s protagonist. Canadian history, specific to Toronto, mixed with Ondaatje's tapestry of fiction really, to me, define the meat of this story. 

Just before I finished reading In the Skin of a Lion, I thought to myself that I would re-read this story so that I could understand it. Not to enjoy it’s beauty again, but to understand it. A second thought I had as I read this book was that it seemed, in parts, quite academic outside of any character’s traits. Then I thought that our book club discussion would clarify The Skin of the Lion for me. It did not. We seemed to be a divided group. Some with my concerns, others thoroughly enjoyed this story despite the apparent flaws of disconnection. Should I quibble about such details?

If you prefer a linear story, this is not the book for you unless you are willing to plumb it’s depths for the story. For me, I may read The Skin of a Lion again and then it will be for a wander with Patrick, the protagonist.

“The first sentence of every novel should be: 

Trust me, this will take time but there is order here, 

very faint, very human. Meander if you want to get to town.”

~ Michael Ondaatje, The Skin of a Lion

Title:  In the Skin of a Lion

Author:  Michael Ondaatje

Original Publisher: McClelland & Stewart, Inc. (1987)

First Vintage Canadian Edition - 1996

Copyright: 1987

Format:  Soft Cover

ISBN: 0-394-28182-9

Type: Fiction

Carson's Rainy Day Research

Carson's Rainy Day Research

“Challenges build character, young man.”

“But Uncle Norman, I don’t want to build character. I want to build a house…..not a real house but one from this kit I got for Christmas. And it’s dumb. How can you get a house from a bunch of popsicle sticks?” 

Carson had a real pout on. He was bored and the kit was the only thing left for him to do. He had been having fun outside in the pouring rain jumping in puddles splashing from the grumpy, growling clouds. Once he was too cold and too wet, he came into the house. Now he was by the fire, had everything scattered all around him and here was his Uncle Norman talking about challenges and character. 

“Well, what kind of research have you done?” Carson's Uncle Norman lowered his newspaper to talk with this favourite nephew.

Carson kept quiet: ‘And now he’s talking about research! That's school stuff.’ Carson wanted help not a school assignment.

“Research? I read the directions. But I can’t see what even a wall should look like so the directions don’t make sense.”

“I guess that’s your challenge then. Finding an answer that makes sense for you. What about that computer you are always playing games on? Can you find any pictures that will help?”

Carson’s Uncle Norman was not that great on computers even though he had to use them at work - at least that was Carson’s opinion. Uncle Norman never, ever played any games, so how would he know anything.

“Really?”

Carson scrambled to his feet, raced upstairs to his room and thundered back down already opening his little device. Once he settled on the rug again, he tapped rapidly in the search engine.  He let out a happy, excited yelp. “The Simplicity Site! I forgot all about it. We use it at school all the time. Here it is, Uncle Norman….pictures. And even a video of a guy putting a popsicle stick house together.”

Carson bent over his project, following the video and the directions, leaving Uncle Norman to read his newspaper. Quiet settled over the living room, broken only by the crackling fire, gentled rain and the odd cawing of a single crow.

“Don’t handicap your children by making their lives easy.”

~ Robert Heinlein