A short story
Photo by Reneé Thompson on Unsplash
A world without women would be no world because women are the world.-Henery X
The Bigger Picture (Part 1)
2023, Henery X ©
Jackson Jones had told no one his secret. For decades, people came from miles around to admire his farm, and buy his harvest from the shack by the road… the ones they could carry, anyway. Everything that grew in this area was unusually large. Nothing appeared as it normally did. Blueberries were the size of apples, apples were the size of pumpkins, and pumpkins were the size of automobiles. The 150-foot tree in the meadow struggled to hold on to the oranges, which were the size of watermelons. Yes, customers always got more than what they expected when they visited Jackson Jones’s farm.
As Jackson lay in his bed, a spring breeze gently blew the curtains near his head. His only son, Martin, was kneeling by his side, praying. Jackson slowly lifted his hand, crooked his gnarled index finger, and whispered…
“It’s time I told you the story about our farm, Son.”
“I’m listening, Father. I’ve been waiting patiently for this day to come.”
“This land has belonged to our family for as long as I can remember. Our family passed it down from generation to generation, and the matriarch gave it to the eldest granddaughter. The women of our family were wise, so much so that they knew things no one else did. One thing they knew was how to enhance the fertilization of the soil.”
“Oh really, Father?”
“Yes. The elder women would gather in the middle of the field and begin chanting something only they knew of. Shortly after, a purplish-colored rain would fall, which was followed by a vibrant golden shower. When I first saw this, I was speechless.”
“It sounds amazing, Father. Why doesn’t this occur now? And how is it you inherited the farm? You’re not a woman.”
Jackson chuckled, “Brilliant observation, Son. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. You will know in time. Now, where was I? Oh, yes. The rain. After the rain had stopped, the women resumed their chanting. This went on for an hour. After the hour had passed, each woman moved to a specific part of the field. Once they arrived at their destinations, a magnificent rainbow overtook the entire space. Nothing else was visible except for the rainbow.”
“Then what happened, Father?”
“Then the rainbow disappeared, the women gathered back together, and then they returned to their homes. A week later, an abundance of abnormal fruits and vegetables was everywhere. I mean, the harvest was so plentiful that there was barely enough room for us to collect things.”
“Wow! Real magic.”
“No, Son. There’s no such thing as magic.”
“Then how do you explain what you just shared with me?”
“It’s the work of our ancestors.”
“Our ancestors?”
“Yes. You know, the ones that came before us. The ones who we get our wisdom from. The ones who know what we know not.”
“But they’ve passed on. How can they be personally responsible for any of this?”
“When I, quote end quote, ‘pass on,’ be sure to venture off into the rainbow. You will discover everything then, my son. Now go, I’m tired.”
“Yes, Father,” Martin said somberly. “Rest well.” He stood to his feet and left his father’s room. His mind left him wondering what the mystery was of it all.
The next day, Jackson Jones passed on. They held his funeral at the local church a few days later. Family and friends came to pay their respects to the man they all loved and respected.
As everyone was driving to the graveyard, a heavy purplish rain fell, which was followed by a vibrant golden shower. Shortly after everyone had arrived at the graveyard, the rain had stopped, and a magnificent rainbow appeared before them.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Martin said. He was speaking to a woman standing beside him.
“What’s beautiful, Martin?” the woman said.
“The rainbow.”
“Rainbow. Where?”
“It’s right before us. How can you not see it?”
An elderly woman walked up beside Martin and whispered in his ear, “Because like the rain that preceded it, it’s not meant for her to see. It’s meant for you only. Now, go experience what you’re destined to know.”
Martin glanced at the woman, smiled, and then walked towards the rainbow.
Once amid the rainbow, Martin couldn’t believe his eyes. There before him stood hundreds of women, and his father, who stood before them all. They were all dressed in overalls and held various tools for tilling soil.
“How, how is this possible?” Martin said in a bewildered manner.
“We are the spiritual caretakers of the land you inherited,” everyone present said in unison.
“Your father was the first man to do what we did, as you will be the last. Your daughter will have daughters,” all the women said. “Your daughter will think highly of your opinion. So, we had to ensure you’d be able to advise her by having you respect and cherish your father. She is who we all thought we would be... the Queen. The rain is a sign of her royalty, and the rainbow is how we can help her maintain the kingdom.”
“This is all fascinating. Especially the part where I’m going to have a daughter, seeing I don’t even have a girlfriend… yet.”
“You and your wife will find one another when the time is right, Martin,” Jackson said. “Just continue to be patient and focused on the farm. We all have your back.”
And with that, the ancestors and the rainbow disappeared. Martin returned to the crowd of people and the site where the vessel of his father would be buried. He now knew what his father meant when he once said to him, “Energy never dies.”
The end. Be sure to catch part two tomorrow.
Thank you for taking the time to acknowledge my offering. May all you deserve and desire flow abundantly into your life, as a river does into a sea.
Remember. I’m not here to convince you to believe. I’m here to offer you something else to consider.
May we never lose our desire to outdo what we’ve already done.
Peace, Love, and the utmost Respect.
I was motivated to write this story thanks to a contest by Chicken Soup For The Soul. Though my submission didn't make the cut, the opportunity allowed me to create something amazing. Rejection is just redirection towards something greater.
I was hooked!! Have you got a short story collection published? I would love to purchase it. You are a great storyteller!
Dearest Brother this is an amazing story!
My POV: This story reminds me of who we are as a people; and the power of our Unity--that produces big fruits of life, that we share within the prosperity of our wealth of knowledge and wisdom. Our obedience to our Source becomes a beacon a light, drawing others to experience our glorious abundances as our own cups overflow with all good things!
Wow. This is amazing.