Remembrance of Eve *NANOWRIMO13*

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Sunlight streaming from the east brought me awake. Momentarily, I wondered where I was. The fragrance of the crushed pikake behind my ear helped to remind me of the events of the previous day. I was brought to this earth, introduced to and married to my husband, Adam, by our Gods, Eloheim and Jehovah. I felt a smile crease my face, and looked over at Adam. He had carelessly thrown an arm across his eyes, keeping the brightness of the sun out. We had not seemed to have moved during the night. His hip was still next to mine, warming and soothing. I wanted to find something for us to eat.

I carefully slipped away from him. It was difficult to move quietly out of our nest. The grasses had dried and brittle, crackling and rattling as I moved. I had to move slowly to limit the noise.

Finally, I was out and standing. I slipped away. I looked for the big, sweet fruit we had eaten yesterday. I wanted to surprise Adam with food. I was starving, and knew he would be. There it was. The big yellow and green fruit, a papaya, he called it. I had to jump to reach the lowest fruit. I am tall, but it was high on the tree. I managed to catch hold of one, and it broke off as I landed. Good. Now I wouldn’t have to struggle to pick it. We needed some a variety to eat. I looked around, and found a tree with huge, oranges. Next, I found mangoes, red and green. This would be a tasty addition. Near the ground grew huge, red strawberries. Perfect. I picked a few. This would be a good way to break our fast.

While I was choosing my fruit, I picked an orange blossom, and put it behind my ear. The lovely fragrance stayed with me through the day.

Now I had fruits to eat, how would I get them back to our nest? Some were big, some were small, and they were all round, and slipped out of my arms easily. I thought, ‘there has to be a better way. What can I do?’ I looked carefully at the vegetation, trees and bushes, as I worked to keep the fruit from falling from my arms. The leaves on that bush are wide, and thick. I wonder if they will work. I carefully set my fruit down, and pulled at a large leaf. At last it broke of into my hands, and I lost my balance, falling on my back side. The leaf was big and round. I placed my fruit in the center, folded the edges toward the middle, forming a handle, and carried them back to our nest. Not one fruit slipped out or fell!

“Breakfast? That is where you went,” came Adam’s voice, startling me. I had been concentrating on my load and thinking of what might be better, and had not seen him looking over the edge of the nest.

“Breakfast. Papaya, mangoes, oranges and strawberries. They looked good, and I thought they would fill our hunger.” I pulled off two large leaves, and placed them in front of us. Adam perched on the edge of the nest, and jumped down.

“Be right back.”

I knew his errand, so I opened the fruits and divided them between us, placing them on the two leaves. I knew he’d return soon. It was not long before he returned. In his arms were gladiolus, periwinkle, and blossoms from fruit trees and two of another fruit. These were long, slender, and yellow. It wasn’t as juicy as the others, nor was it as sweet. It was a perfect complement to the other fruits.

“Banana” he said in answer to my unasked question.

It did not take long to begin eating. We were both hungry, but Adam managed to speak around his food.

“Thank you for this. You did not need to do this for me.”

“But I wanted to. I am your mate, your wife. I wanted to surprise you.”

“How kind of you. I do appreciate it.” He went back to eating.

After all the fruit was gone, he scrubbed the juice from his face and grinned. “I think we need to wash. Race you to the stream!”