Under the Mango Tree: 101 Tales (5)

EXPECTATIONS

Challenge No. 82. Fortune Cookies.

I just ate three fortune cookies, which gave me the following fortunes. Interpret them how you will:

"Do you want to be a power in the world? Then be yourself."

"Call an old friend today."

"A close friend reveals a hidden talent."

Write a scene or story inspired by one of the fortunes.

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Theme chosen: "A close friend reveals a hidden talent."

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Any gathering of the Larcher Family looked more like a subcommittee of the Saint Lucia Bar Association. From lowly solicitors to vaulted Chief Justices, these were the people Erica knew as parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins. The expectation was that this would be her path as well.

She was fluent in Creole and English. 'Clients come in all languages.' her mother had warned. That was swiftly followed by French and Spanish.

Meals were not a time to find out 'how was school' but an opportunity for discussions on the government's legislative agenda or the latest case at the assizes.

On the infrequent times her father, a senior partner at his law firm, dropped by, he didn't bring gifts of chocolates and games for his daughter, the gifts were usually toy gavels or courthouse not a doll's house.

As she got older this morphed into books. For her eighteen birthday, her grandmother, a retired magistrate, gifted Erica with a copy of the Caribbean Court of Justice, Academy for Law, publication, "Pioneering Caribbean Women Jurists"*.

Erica may have wanted to become a lawyer - she didn't know. But the assumption that this is what she wanted, coupled with everyone pushing her in that direction, with a complete lack of consultation, led to the inevitable. The last thing Erica Larcher, a descendant of lawyers wanted to be... was a lawyer!

For the entire eighteen years of her life, she had sketched and she was good! She had a folder on the Cloud filled with illustrations. Then she spotted the flyer for the Caribbean Animation and Film Training Project for its free 2D & 3D Animation Workshops. It was for a duration of four months - FOR FREE! She signed up.

But Erica could only hide her love of the art form and her distaste for the law for so long. She'd done well so far but one day it all came out.

She was focused on an assignment and didn't hear her grandmother approaching. Usually, with a quick click, the image would switch from animation to a legal citation. But not this day.

"Erica?"

The startled teen dropped the device - face up. The old lady picked it up. "What's this?"

"Nothing!" She grabbed it.

"You don't want to be a lawyer, do you." It was not a question.

The gentle tone was too much and Erica started to cry. "No!'

"Oh, my little one! Why didn't you say so!"

"Everyone wants it!"

"But you want to draw?"

"Yes. But mum will have a fit and the family will be so disappointed in me."

"You let me worry about the family. Is this what you REALLY want?"

Erica hesitated. "I've been offered a job with an animation studio."

"I see."

"This is what fires me. My instructor says I'm good. I'm so sorry... law is not for me."

"Alright then. Granny will make it happen. But Erica, in a family of lawyers, what have you been taught?"

"Sign nothing unless your lawyer looks at it first."

© 21 May 2022

* Real publication though at the time of posting it was not available online.