I remember one of Archie’s friends ate the core of apples. Archie said this kid’s parents never told him the center of the fruit was inedible. He would crunch them down, seeds and all. Sometimes he even gnawed on the stem. A nice boy, but I learnt not to have our usual pack of Braeburns around when he visited. Too stressful.
The heap of cores stacked by the tree were so neat and perfect, like the ones from the Butter Mouse illustration all that time ago. A small line of seeds in the middle, with semi circles cut out either side.
But these were not the cores of my storybook. On several climbed the biggest wasps I have ever seen. Hornets as long as my thumb, with the yellow, black, and aggression of emergency road signs. Others patrolled the surrounding air, providing a tangible buzz.
I considered a new Butter Mouse story involving bees and pollination, then pushed it away with the mad thought of plunging my hand in, and swirling the insects into a frenzy.
'I wouldn't get too close.’
The voice made me jump. I thought it was back, and those claws would extend an
I spotted her at last. A woman in her thirties, blonde hair curled to her head, sitting cross legged under one of the apple trees. She was only a few trees away, but a shadow hid her eyes, refusing to reveal if they were open or not.
'You might want to leave a pile near your house. Peace of mind.'
'Do you work here?' I said. A lame retort, but I could not be charming and watch the insects.
She laughs.
'No. But the owner lets me come here. I find it a good place to go when things are busy. You have to prepare. That's the key. Tricky days are going to happen, eh? The wasps are going to come too. In the end they can help you.'
Perhaps it was the way she was sitting. The tone of her voice. But I knew I shouldn’t wait here for long. It was like seeing a heavy drunk in a rough bar. I marched off, without saying goodbye.
'Remember, you can visit here whenever you want,' she said. ‘With the right training.’
The wasps never stopped their buzzing. Something crashed in another field.
Visit the orchards if you can. See that gorgeous fruit. Understand the pull of istory.
Just watch those insects.
::Feels significant Barbara. Again, like all this area is like a huge rockpool, and I am dipping my hand in. Not just seeing what is inside, but becoming part of it in some way.
What is this book, this time?
Sounds outside the window again.
Just look at those hornets in the photo. They are even bigger than I remember:::
