Picture courtesy of Dee Lovering
My first thought was that this looked like a village in Croatia we visited when we stayed there one summer. It’s a lovely place – and even if this isn’t that village, I will pretend that it is.
Word count: 102
Summerfest
Sasha listened to the lambs bleating all morning. They echoed off the hills surrounding the harbor village, lingering like ghosts on the wind, wafting out over the Adriatic.
-Mama, can I see the lambs? They’re so cute and fluffy.
-Sweetie, they will be tired by the time the festival begins.
In the square at sunset, smells mingled – garlic, rosemary, hot oil. Sasha’s eyes took in the booths, the vendors, the colors – and the monsters. Red and shiny, their legs in the air.
-What are those?
His uncle’s answer echoed in his head for years.
-Why, there are your lambies, my boy. Delicious!
© Erin Leary
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“..lingering like ghosts on the wind…”
I liked that and the rest of this wonderfully descriptive piece.
What a disturbing sight for the poor kid. But that’s life in some parts of the world and you’ve captured this slice of life well.
At some point in every child’s life comes the revelation between the animals in the field and the food on the table. You handled this graphically and well. I’m off lamb anyway. 😉
Yum! I was brought up on a farm, so I know where my food comes from. We used to freak out our guests by telling them the name of the animal they were eating 🙂 Great piece, brought back memories!
No more lamb for me! Please don’t tell any cow stories 😉
I had a feeling this would end this way. 🙂 Beautiful descriptions taking us to the feast.
Ah.. they were indeed very tired… poor Sasha…
Dear Erin,
My husband’s uncle owned a farm and had a young bull the kids named Barney. One night at dinner, he and his brothers nearly caused their sister to become a vegetarian when they pointed out the “Barney burgers” on her plate.
Love your story. Perhaps his uncle could’ve been a bit more tactful, though. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
Uncle doesn’t win any points for tact, but your story seemed quite real. As for me, I think lambs are adorable, but I also love to eat lamb (although they’ll be glad to know I don’t eat meat too often.)
janet
I think you’ve just shown us the moment when young Sasha became a vegetarian. Neatly woven, Erin.
All my best,
MG
Oh, boy. I remember those lambs. Nice plot twist.
Lovely images that capture several views all at once. The boys wonder at the living lambs and horror at what they became were as vivid as the smells of garlic, rosemary and oil
You have set the scene and written this so well Erin. That moment when we realise that the fluffy lambs and chicks will be our dinner one day, although I think Mama needs to have a word with his uncle about timing!
Dee
PS The photo was taken in Valldemossa, Majorca.
This reminds me of last Thanksgiving with my daughter. I’m sure Sasha and her had the same reaction!
Great story!
That mix of garlic, rosemary & hot oil. And lamb! My mouth is watering. I’m not bothered about Sacha – can I have another slice please.
Poor kid – the garlic & rosemary & hot oil with the lamb – how funny – Sorry – I mean well written! Nan 🙂
I often watched my dad clear fish so I was used to that. I don’t eat meat often, but I prefer it sliced, except chicken which I’m used to seeing on the bone. My mother lived on a farm when young and refused to eat the ham that had been her pet pig. Children are often not encouraged to make pets of some farm animals. Good story and well written.
I know of many people who stopped eating meat when they saw them butchered or as “meat”! I guess poor Sasha must have been too shocked to grasp the harsh reality between his lambs-the pretty ,fluffy ones and the red monsters-cool take on the prompt,enjoyed it:-)