Of Amanda and Blueberries...

Blueberries...fat little raindrops in dusky blue skins, bending down the delicate, dew soaked branches with their flavorfull goodness...just waiting for someone to come along and drop them into a big basket... And, this lovely July morning, it looks as if that is what that foursome of girls traipsing down the dirt lane at this very moment are going to do, for they have large baskets on their arms, among other things, and are all laughing heartily over something I can't quite make out...they look like they are having a fine time of it, too, except they are missing the oldest sister terribly. They, the three who live at the place in which the aformentioned berries are growing wild in the wood, have had for the past evening and this whole day to spend with their dear friend and companion, Amanda. The other three in our story are Dorothy, Adeline, and Martha, who are obviously quite happy to have finally persuaded their friend to come for a visit and breakfast in the woods together on a little blanket. Indeed, I do think that is what all of those extra packages are for...As they walk closer, I can make out more of what everyone and everything is. They all have on big practical straws, and are all kicking up the dew in almost the same manner. I can hear more of what they say....That tall one is saying how she"Wonders if we can find that especially good bush, you know, sister, that the large ones grow on?"

To which the odd looking one in a striped frock replies that she "was sure it was right near our breakfasting spot" and that she "does hope that they aren't all dried to smitherines." However, directly after having said the previous, she barly kept all her bundles by nearly falling pell mell over a stump. The dimpled girl in the yellow blouse and that pretty thing in a blue skirt and the tall one all erupted into laughter, and the concern over dried berries was forgotton... When the girls arrived at the desired location, they set up their picnic, poured coffee, and ate their French toast, lost the syrup cap, and talked about all sorts of things The breakfast being wrapped up after a time because of uninvited ant guests, they began to fill their berry baskets...

If you were to stand just on the outskirts of the woods after they had finished their meal, you would have heard four hearty voices singing at the top of their lungs every good song you could think of, and then even some you could not. One, if you listen closely, is well trained, while another one {I can only assume the one who nearly tripped over that stump} is slightly off key in a brave attempt to harmonize, while the other two are quite nice sopranos...They sang for hours and hours, talked for some time, and sometimes they were quiet, picking all the while. When they had filled their baskets, they went home and hemmed dresses and hand quilted while they watch a moving picture show called Cranford, and drank ginger ale with ice. Oh, and that odd one did spill half her berries in the wood, and the pretty one really did have to drag the ant-covered picnic blanket home by the very corner, and the dimpled one finally found the breakfast syrup lid in the bushes. And yes, the tall one did find her large bearing bush. And, no, they were not all dry. The berries, I mean. They were plump, and sweet and beautiful... fat little raindrops in dusky blue skins...

Come again soon, dear. The girls had a precious time...