One
of several points of contention between me and Tex for the last 3
years has been the tangerine tree in his back yard. Technically it's
not in HIS backyard. Technically do you call a 15'x4' plot of dead
grass behind your single-wide a backyard? You see, there are no
fences in the Green Acres Senior Mobile Home Park. No delineation of
property lines, so one can only estimate their boundaries. But Tex,
as well as his neighbor, are comfortable with the tree's location and
ownership is assumed to be on the latter's adjoining postage stamp
yard.
 |
| The tangerine tree half-picked |
Every
year, come December, the tree bears copious amounts
of fruit. And every year the holiday season is heralded in by the grocery
bags full of tangerines that Mike brings home after every visit to
see his dad. And every year I make a good supply of tangerine marmalade
from which Grampy, (my #1 fan), gets several jars.
Year
before last I asked him if his neighbor minds the fact that he picks
all those tangerines off his tree. He just snorted at me and
proclaimed "That colored fella that owns that tree? he said he
wants nuthin' to do with the tangerines." Subject closed. Mike
and I gave up years ago trying to bring his dad into a politically
correct 21st century. He means no racial slur and actually he's best friends with his neighbor. To him calling a
black man a colored fella is like calling a tomato a tomahto.
This
last January I noticed a ladder leaning up against the tree one day
when I went to visit Tex. I questioned him. "Dad are you
climbing a ladder to get those tangerines?" For a minute he
forgot there even was a tangerine tree and stared at me blankly. He
snapped out of the fog shortly and barked" Well of course! How
else am I gonna get the ones high up?" I replied "No, dad.
Mike and I do NOT want you climbing up in that tree. Let me get some
grandkids and we'll come over here and pick that tree for you".
He didn't reply, just walked away. But shortly after I got home he
called. "Cathy that colored fellow does NOT want you or the kids
messing with his tree. Don't come over here to pick tangerines."
Criminy Christmas I thought, is that colored guy even real? I said
"dad I I don't give a rats patootie about those tangerines. I
just don't want you climbing up there on that ladder. You just had
surgery and got out of the hospital not three weeks ago". "Cathy
I don't know what the hell you're talking about. I've never had
surgery in my life." And he hung up the phone.
 |
| pile of leaves Grampy felt a need to cover up |
The
next day Mike and I joined forces and drove over to see Grampy. He
met us at the back door. he had two more bags of tangerines to
give us stashed under his back stoop, carefully covered up by towels.
I asked him why he was hiding them under the stairs and, glancing
surreptitiously up and down the trailer park street he mumbled, "You
just can't trust these old people. They like to steal".
I
pressed him for more information. "Dad are you certain your
neighbor doesn't mind you taking his tangerines?" He frowned at
me like I'd never brought it up before and said "Aw hell. I do
it at midnight. he doesn't even know I'm up in his tree". Mike
and I both rolled our eyes in frustration and I let go with "Dad
it's bad enough you're climbing up a ladder but in the DARK!? He
shushed me. "No I'm safe. I tie a rope around my waist then tie
it to the ladder and loop it over a high tree branch so I won't
fall". And with that he toddled back into the house. Hand to God
I'm not embellishing here. With visions of a scrawny 5 foot-nuthin
old man dangling from a fruit tree at midnight Mike and I marched into the
house after him. "But dad. dad NO you really can't do that!"
Mike implored. Again with the shushing and then a firm dismissal as
he turned on the TV. "Bonanza's starting. Cathy why don't you
and Mike take those tangerines home and make me some marmalade. I
sure like it." Game over. It was time to leave and with a heavy
sigh we headed toward the door, Grampy turned and yelled at my
retreating back "And make some for that colored guy next door.
He likes it too!"
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