By Dorothy Isted
Salmon Arm, BC
EXCERPT
Because of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) farmers are having a tough time getting their crops to market. Being out of work and a new resident of Salmon Arm I decided to work at a berry farm, to help out. I do not need the money.
The cast for my portrayal of the berry farm people are as follows: Lost Boy, Senior Gal and Supervisor.
Lost Boy: I’m part Jewish. Did you know Jews are good with money?
Senior Gal: I’ve heard that.
Lost Boy: Yeah, I’m good with money. I get CERB. I’m not reporting this job to the government. They get enough of my money.
Senior Gal: Yeah, I knew someone who was mad at the government, so he didn’t pay his taxes for five years. Then he got sick and couldn’t qualify for disability because of it. Screwed himself there.
Lost Boy: Well, they’re not getting any more of my money.
Lost Boy to two boy pickers: Yeah, so you pay cash for a car and then you save money. Work all summer and collect EI in the winter.
Senior Gal: Or get a job.
Lost Boy: It’s time for a break. I’m going for a spliff.
Senior Gal: I had you figured for a pot head.
Lost Boy: Oh, why?
Senior Gal: The way you talk.
If it is raining you do not show up to pick. Strawberries do not survive wet picking well. Nor do they if it is too warm. Hence the six o’clock start so that activity stops when it gets too warm. If it rained overnight, you get pretty wet crawling around the rows. As you try to stay upright you are reminded of that old song by Simon and Garfunkel, Slip Slidin’ Away.
Senior Gal: Did we lose Lost Boy?
Supervisor: He was asked to leave.
My first day picking the mosquitoes nearly carried me away. I hate mosquito spray. You know, poison, environmental concerns. After the second flat I spied some on the shelf. Supervisor sprayed my back, away from the strawberries. Experience, the great leveler of high ideals.
Strawberry Fields for Never,
Copyright © Dorothy Isted, 2020