The Last Bus of Summer

Wonderful memory piece. Wise parents to let you have a go at the job you wanted so badly. You must have burned to a crisp picking berries in the hot sun. Redheads burn faster than anyone on the planet. Don't we both know it?
Nancy

I think your memories always sum up the tough rather than the easies because those you earned. The others were freebies and therefore of far less value. Great story.
Fred

Another cute story, told only as kate could!

Betty King

Kathe dear,
You learned a lot that summer of 1944; didn't you? I was captivated with your vivid remembrance of berry-picking, and then reading about that chilled sip of local apple juice made me thirsty for a cup myself!
Delightful writing, as usual,
Sandi in FL.

Kathe - Excellent story that more than reminds me of my own youthful 50's berry-picking misadventure. To this day, The thought of picking berries makes me mentally shudder. Interestingly, the wife just arrived home today from picking blackberries in Oregon.

Don

Awesome story, Kathe.
Many people don't realize how hard life can be.

Mike

Another wonderful "brain shaker" from you kathe. Here in Wisconsin, it was beans! How i hated those big boys who would out-pick, out-brag and get to be the beanman's pets! Me, I just slogged along in my straw hat, dragging that miserable sack with a few beans lost in the bottom! The Farmers Market has wonderful beans! RoseMary Salzman

I'm ashamed to say I have no experience picking berries. But, no doubt it was a miserable job - good for you giving it a go and for your parents allowing such foolishness! :-)

Kathy

Oh Kathe, the memories you do prompt! In Nebraska it was picking potatoes. If you have never had the 'excitement' of fastening a long fabric bag onto two sharp hooks, dragging that bag between your legs, as you bent over picking potatoes out of the dirt and dropping them into the bag - well you were lucky! Not a memory with any delight in it until the very end of the season, when I had earned enough to purchase a new winter coat (probably the first I had that was new). Now I cower inside when the temp gets into the 90's. As I recall we worked from 6 - 10 a.m. and from 3p.m. - 6 p.m. Long days and hard work for little kids!