Strawberry Shine

Chapter 4 - Hobbies

Chapter 4 - Hobbies

Hector explained with a soft voice when he said, "Welcome to the world of wine and brandy making. You approach the process with love, passion and skill. Wine making is simple. Nonetheless, it is an art. Taste is based on an individual's choice of sweetness and twang. You noticed the jugs of many sizes as you progressed through the underground facilities. Most fruit wines can initially be made in small quantities of up to seven gallons in less than thirty days. The amount of yeast and sugar determine longer periods up to a year, Larger quantities require containers of stainless steel, porcelain glass, plastics or enameled interiors. These containers are known by several names. I like the word vats."

I said, "I recently read that adding lemon juice, sugar and different types of yeast add to the flavor."

Allie said, "My Dad makes homemade strawberry wine. Sometimes he lets it age for a year. Occasionally, the wine ferments only a month."

I said, "Hector, you could teach wine making in junior college."

"I'm just a dumb jock. I'm not a public speaker."

"You spoke from your heart. You portray wine making like an expert. I bet you can describe the operation to anyone. Would you explain how each piece of equipment is used in the procedures."

"Joey and I need to finish the laundry and eat lunch. We can get away about 1:30 this afternoon."

"That's a date."

It's not a date! You are demonstrating how to create wine."

"Bad choice of words. I mean the time is okay. You are misinterpreting what I said. Why so defensive. You suggested you wanted to discover more about fruit wine using strawberries."

"I don't want to date you. You have a bad rep. My parents advised me about you. Allie confirmed it with her statement earlier. Perhaps Henry or my Dad can fill me in about the equipment."

I will be glad to help you, or you can get many people in this community to assist you." He cast his eyes down, frowned and walked away.

"I am sorry Hector. I did not mean to insult you. You are a gentleman, and I asked you to assist me." My stomach churned, shoulders slumped, but my cheeks warmed.

He turned facing me. He smiled, his eyes glistened, and body straightened.

At lunch, Daddy brought Hector and Henry home with him. He said, they helped him replace and seal between the glass and frames in the greenhouses. Daddy said, "We have all this food given by our neighbors. They will aid in eating before it spoils."

Henry said, "We're glad to help,"

"You refused to accept my money for the work you did for the past two days,"

"You're family. Hector and I don't charge kin."

"Angelica, the boys tell me you wanted to explore the old wine cellars. I worked in them with my mother ran the operation. She was the boy's great aunt. Their fathers work there as boys. Of course, that was illegal. We all could have been arrested."

"Daddy, you never told me stories of that time."

"It's part of mt past. I'm not proud of the activities. We experienced no fear, because we were young. Momma was a tough boss and taught us to work hard. The depression caused many to lose everything they own, but we thrived. Momma helped many in the county with food, housing and jobs when they had no money. Hector and Henry's fathers saved their money and bought farmland. As the country recovered, jobs from the farms help others to improve. It started with momma."