Mum Me And Mangos

Another dawn and Kookaburras laughed with the promise of rain . The tropical breeze swept through and whispered an ancient memory on the salt bush plains . The river ran again through our property . It had been dry to long . Three years of drought had taken Dad away from us and since his passing Mum and I tried top keep things going on the farm . Feed had arrived too late for the sheep and most of the cattle had been sold at half of what they were worth . Mum needed the money to pay off Dad's outstanding debts .

It was still early and we hadn't got over Dad's death but it wasn't for the want of trying .

After we had sold all the stock the only source of income we had came from the mangos on the property . It was hard after dad died but Mangos kept Mum and I alive under that old rusty tin roof over our heads . It was a harsh existence here in this place . Some thing's can be a step away from hell at times .

The flies and dust , the sun and salt bushes . But there's also a little piece of heaven here too with the wild birds and the river when it flows . If you can stick it out through the dry seasons you can appreciate the desert blooms and the mangos . For six years now Mum and I had been in the mango business .

I still remember the day she gave me a pair of new work boots and said ,

"Well son its just me and you now ".

I looked over at her as she stood at the stove cooking breakfast . I loved her pancakes .

"Hows the weather out there . Are the mangos ready for picking yet son ?"

She never looked over as she turned over the pancakes .

"'I heard the kookaburras early on having a laugh , so I think there's rain on the way . I should have all the mangos in boxes by tomorrow ."

I went over and stood beside her .

She took the pancakes from the pan and placed them on a plate and handed it to me saying :

"Hows the fence down by the desert gum by the river ?"

With a muttered response due to half a pancake in my mouth I replied ,

"I fixed it yesterday ."

Quick as a flash she asked ,

"Did you see that Brumbie around yet ?

I shook my head and answered ,

"No . I think its gone somewhere else ."

As I began to make my way over to the kitchen table she called after me ,

"Well son tell me then , Cindy doesn't mind living out here on the property with us ?"

I stopped and looked back and said ,

"No Mum , I told you she can't wait to leave the big city ."

She took off her apron and said ,

"Ok then . I'll fix up her room today . Now have your breakfast . There's a lot to be done today ."

She headed out from the kitchen and into the shed .

As I eat breakfast I though about how times had changed for me thanks to Mum .

The day she wrote that letter to some TV Show in the city called The Bushie wants a bride . I still remember the day all those city girls came out here to meet me and how I fell in love with Cindy .

Now we were to be married and wouldn't you know it she wants to live here with Mum and I .

Families like us are lucky I guess .

Only three weeks to go and my name will be hers .

Mum likes Cindy and the same goes for Cindy too .

We're going to have a bush dance after the wedding .

Most people around here have met Cindy . They think she's great .

Now I had two best friends and thanks God life is good and so are the mangos .

The End

By Paul McCann