Under the Mango Tree: 101 Tales (3)

SIMPLE THINGS

Challenge No.60 - Small Delights.

Write a scene or short essay that celebrates a small, simple pleasure.

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The silence deepened as the friends contemplated the question that had just been dropped in their midst. They'd been chatting and laughing at awful jokes and the conversation had drifted all over the place. They'd picked apart the West Indies Team's performance at the last Cricket World Cup, complained about COVID-19 and all the protocols that it had unleashed, all the while munching on the black pudding and local bread they'd bought.

Then they'd digressed into the question of what were the simple things that made one happy? Felt true joy? Just the simple things. The silence had descended. Their brains whirled as they seriously gave the question consideration.

"Ice cream," Celia stated.

"Uh." Lisa moaned in pleasure at the thought.

"Homemade. Factory-made. Expensive. Not expensive. Ice cream. When I'm feeling down. I reach for ice cream. I don't care about the flavour. Ice cream is the thing that gives me simple unadulterated joy."

"That's some admission." Kenny laughed.

"Me next." Oscar opted. "Christmas. I really like Christmas. Mind you not the actual day. I like the build-up. The countdown. The December Festivals that the season brings. Festival of Carols. Festival of Lights. Lantern Competition. My mum, busy cooking the ham. Yeah... Christmas is the one for me."

"The mushy Christmas movies. Doh lie! You watch them!" Celia teased him.

"Ahhhh look at him blush!" Lisa laughed.

"River lime," Kenny announced. What could be better than a river lime? "Catching zergee, backs, kwibish then cooking them on three stones and drinking beers."

"Oh yes." Celia closed her eyes. "And the smoke from the wood-burning seeps into the food. Yum!"

"Ever notice how stuff just sounds better in creole? He didn't say eels, crabs or crawfish. Oh no - uh uh. He said, zergee, backs and kwibish." Kenny said and they all laughed.

"This is fun. Who's next?" Celia asked.

"Me... I'm next. Friends." Lisa said. "Real good friends like us. We are rare. We've been friends since kindergarten. Even university has not separated us. Yes. Friends for sure."

"Long may it be so." Oscar hugged her.

"All the things we're listed have no monetary value. Did you notice that?" Kenny said.

"I think that makes it even more valuable," Lisa replied.

The others agreed.

"That leaves you, Roy. What simple, uncomplicated thing gives you joy?" Celia prompted.

"Me? That's easy. Eating black pudding with my friends on a riverbank, answering the question what gives me joy." Roy shrugged.

Kenny slapped him on the shoulder. "Yes! Well said!"

The others laughed.

Celia threw a loaf of bread at him.

© 298 April 2022

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