Harvesting Acorns

by Deirdré Amy Gower

  “James, how do you know so much about acorns? Do you read up about them?” she asked.

  “I do now, a little bit, but most of what I know is from the stories my grandmother and grandfather have told me.” James really spoke in a manner way beyond his brief eight years.

  “I must go home now, it is almost time for lunch and my mom will be mad if I am late. I will see you tomorrow.” He picked up his cooler box, said goodbye and hurried off before Chloe could ask any more – about the acorns, and why his grandparents had told him stories about acorns. This really was all very puzzling for her.

  This enigma had begun to consume her every thought. She found herself impatient to meet James under the oak tree every morning. The next two days were eventless, no more acorns fell. Chloe learned not to push James for information until he was ready to share. It took every ounce of her patience to just sit and wait, most of the time in silence. It was also rather cold sitting outside waiting. They were now already two weeks into the first autumn month and it was confirmed by the chill that made its way through her jersey.

  The following morning, day eight of their acorn wait, proved to be a good day. She arrived a few minutes before James and was absolutely delighted by what she saw – at least thirty acorns lying beneath the tree. She almost ran to collect them but fortunately stopped herself in time. This was James’ project; she would not ruin it for him. So she waited for him to arrive so he could collect them. Besides, he knew the process – she did not want to disturb it and risk damaging the acorns. Not with a one in ten thousand chance of survival.

  James arrived soon after and his face lit up.

  “They are here,” he beamed.

  “Yes, they are. I didn’t want to disturb anything so I didn’t start collecting them. But I would love to help if you can tell me how,” she hinted hopefully.

  “All right, I would love your help.” James opened the cooler box, took out the jar of water and two dishtowels. He opened the jar, gave Chloe a dishtowel and kept one for himself.

  “First you need to inspect the acorn. It needs to be dark brown; nearly black and you must easily be able to take the cap off. Green ones are immature and have obviously fallen before their time. Also make sure there aren’t any holes – that means insects have eaten out the inside. They will not grow.” James explained in such detail, Chloe was surprised again by his knowledge.

  He continued:

  “Then you need to put it in the jar, like I did the other day, and make sure it is in good health. If it is, dry it properly and then put it in one of the zip-lock bags over there. If it is unhealthy, throw it away. Here, watch me first.” He picked up one of the acorns, inspected it, and put it in the water. It sank. He took it out and dried it properly. Then he opened the cooler bag and took out a small zip-lock freezer bag and placed the acorn inside.

  Inside the cooler box was a layer of ice and then a tray racked above, but not touching the ice. He placed the plastic bag with the acorn on the tray and then closed the lid. He then sat back on it, next to where Chloe sat on the bench. Chloe held her breath. Was he going to tell her or did she need to ask?

  James began slowly and quietly, in the manner in which Chloe had become used to after the last few days she had spent with him.

  “The acorns need to be kept cool until they are ready to be planted. My grandfather says it is called… strati… um, strati… oh yes, ‘stratification’. In nature the acorns fall in the autumn and then they get covered by snow until spring when they sprout. So if you want to plant your own acorn you need to copy nature. When I get home I will put all the plastic bags with acorns into the fridge until they are ready to be planted in a few months, just before spring.”

  Again, amazed, Chloe stared at James.

  “That is very clever James. Now can you tell me…” she had not finished her sentence when he pointed towards the other acorns.

  “It is your turn,” and he smiled. It was the first time he had interrupted her. She took that as his way of pacing her with her questions and the information he shared. All in good time his look seemed to say. It is all a part of the process. She picked up the first acorn and examined it. There was a hole at the bottom. She decided to test James’ theory about healthy versus unhealthy acorns and put it in the jar of water anyway. It floated right on top of the water - clearly an unhealthy nut. She took another one. This one was very dark brown. She tested the cap – it came off easily. Next she put it in the jar of water and it sank to the bottom. She had found a healthy nut! She dried it off and put it in a zip lock bag and onto the tray in the cooler box. James was watching her, smiling.

  “Well done,” he said, “you learn quickly.”

  Chloe laughed. Here she was, a well-travelled, research-adept, thirty-one year old; and she was being taught by an eight year old! And she was completely absorbed in the lesson and eager to know all she could about harvesting acorns. She no longer wanted to rush James for the mystery of why he was doing this, why he knew so much about acorns. She was enjoying the learning and knew she would know everything exactly when she needed to. They went through the rest of the acorns in the same manner, keeping some, throwing out the rest.

  When they were finished, they had five healthy acorns in the cooler box. It was time for James to get home for lunch and for Chloe to get back to the café. She had agreed to have lunch with Phoebe. They had not spoken much in the last few days. Chloe had been too preoccupied with James, and preparing to start work and move into her new home that when she was not with James she was either locked up in her room or out shopping for a few items here and there.

  She and Phoebe spoke a lot over lunch; it was as if they had not seen each other for years and years. Chloe told her all about her preparations and Phoebe offered all the help she could.

  “You have already done so much for me, Phoebe; I don’t know how I will ever repay you.”

  “Enough with the gratitude,” Phoebe teased, “It is making you sound pitiful and helpless.” She winked at Chloe. “You are neither. It has been a pleasure, and you have brought so much warmth into our lives.”

  Chloe blushed. “Ok, it is just so overwhelming. I arrived here without a job, without a home, without a friend – and within a couple of weeks I have it all.”

  Phoebe nodded knowingly.

  “That is how life works. When you take a leap of faith and leave a situation that is stable, but not in line with your conscience and values, God, or whatever your belief, I do not want to impose mine, steps in and paves a new glorious way for you. It is your only duty to let it be and unfold as it should.”

  Chloe had begun to see this. What was happening in her life was nothing short of a miracle.

  “Now tell me,” Phoebe continued. “I could not help noticing that you have been spending a lot of time with James. Care to tell me what that is all about?”

  “Let me just say, I didn’t think that there was anything that an eight year old boy could teach me, but that little guy surprises me day after day. How does a little boy get so smart?” Chloe was interested to learn about James’ life, about his family, and especially the grandparents he had briefly mentioned.

  “James is a very quiet and introverted child. Consider yourself special that he has allowed you into his space and that he continues to spend so much time with you. Not many people have had that privilege. Do not push him for more than he is ready to share.” Phoebe gave the impression she was not about to share any more on that topic either and Chloe did not ask anymore.

  Phoebe offered to help Chloe shop for things for her new home. Fortunately for Chloe, as she had sold all her furniture when she left her hometown, the new place was furnished. However, she needed to buy kitchen utensils, linen and towels. She was quite excited about this. It was like a ceremony of sorts to make the space her own. Phoebe asked her assistant to run the café for an hour or two and as soon as they had finished their lunch they left for the shops in Chloe’s car.

  They spent a wonderful
afternoon browsing and behaving like life-long best friends shopping together. It seems it really was a bonding ‘sport’ for women, Chloe had never really understood that concept until now, as she had always hated shopping. Nevertheless, to her surprise this ordinarily mundane activity turned into a fun event, with her and Phoebe giggling and trying on all sorts of crazy items of clothing and modelling for each other.

  Chloe dashed to the car at one point to fetch her camera – moments like these needed to be captured. She planned to make a montage of their afternoon escapades later. Photography had started out as a hobby, and then later proved a very valuable skill with her journalism career. Her own photographs accompanied many of her articles. Very rarely other photographers had joined her on an assignment, and only then because the specific articles required her to be photographed as well. She caught herself with the thoughts of her career and snapped her attention back to the present. She was not going to let that baggage bring her down today and ruin this occasion.

  She looked up and Phoebe was prancing around in a tiny red dress, with red stilettos and a black feather boa. She had tousled her pixie cut hair and put on bright red lipstick. Chloe burst into uncontrollable laughter. Never mind ballerina this was a sultry and mature cabaret performer before her. Either that or a cougar wannabe. Next, Chloe disappeared into the changing room. She emerged ten minutes later in a tailored black suit, a Charlie Chaplin hat and a cane. She had taken her black eyeliner out of her purse and painted on a fake moustache. Phoebe was crying with laughter at her impersonations. The shop attendant came through to see what all the fuss was about. Chloe expected to be chased out of the store, but the attendant took one look at her and burst into a fit of laughter too.

  “Nancy, I’d like you to meet my friend, Charlie… er I mean Chloe,” they erupted into laughter again before either Nancy or Chloe could greet the other. Oh good Chloe thought, at least they know each other, we aren’t going to be kicked out and left shame-faced and too embarrassed to return.

  Chloe and Phoebe got dressed into their own clothes again. It was time to continue with what they were actually shopping for. Phoebe kept stifling her giggles. Chloe couldn’t quite understand why she was still giggling twenty minutes later. What was even more puzzling was that everyone else walking past kept giggling too. They walked past the antique store that Chloe had visited not too long ago, there was a full-length mirror on display in the window and Chloe caught a glimpse of herself and gasped in horror. In their rush to get dressed and amid all the laughter, she had forgotten about the eyeliner moustache!

  “Phoebe! You are awful! How could you let me walk around like this?” she was horrified, but took one look at Phoebe and laughter exploded from the depths of her stomach. Oh well, at least nobody knew her here. As she looked up though, that thought seemed to flutter off and get caught in a great big net of embarrassment. There stood James, with an elderly couple, presumably his grandparents. James stood staring at her, and then started giggling too. It was the first time she had seen anything but the pensive expression he always displayed. This was worth every ounce of humiliation she was about to endure.

  “Hello James,” she said in a gruff voice, “you’ve caught me trying out a new look. What do you think?”

  “You are funnier than I thought you were. You always seem so serious, so grown up.” James replied. “But I knew there was something different about you. Chloe, these are my grandparents.”

  Chloe awkwardly reached out a hand to greet them.

  “Please excuse me, we were, um, we were – oh dear, we were just messing around and having a laugh and I forgot to wipe off the moustache! It is a pleasure to meet you. Your grandson is an amazing child.”

  “Yes, James told us about you. He says you are really interested in the oak tree and him collecting acorns,” James’ grandfather said as he shook her hand, not quite managing to stifle his chuckle at Chloe’s expense.

  “I am Joel, and this is my beautiful wife, Grace.” He gave Phoebe a hug while Chloe was greeting Grace.

  “Hi Phoebe, how have you been, we haven’t seen you for a while.”

  Phoebe was clearly pleased to see them.

  “Yes, it has been far too long, please come around for tea again sometime soon. We miss you at Tea for Two.”

  Chloe felt a stirring; Joel and Grace seemed so familiar. She had not met any locals yet beside those who worked in the stores. Where could she possibly have seen them? She just couldn’t place them and for some reason, it bothered her greatly.

  “So, Chloe, did James tell you that Grace and I planted that oak tree, many years ago.” Joel asked casually and James gave her a bit off an apologetic look. She smiled at him; she knew he would have told her when he felt ready. Another little piece of the puzzle.

  “No, we had not got to that yet,” she answered, rather surprised. “He has been showing me how to harvest the acorns so far. I am learning a lot,”

  Grace smiled.

  “We were not much older than James when we planted it, together.” She beamed up at her husband, love pouring from her gaze to his. They had known each other a lifetime, and still that love was evident. That was it! The couple walking on the beach the day she had arrived. This was them!

  “I would love to hear the story of the tree sometime, although I am sure James will tell me when he is ready.” Chloe gave James an encouraging smile.

  “When James has told you all he can, and if he feels it is all right, we would be happy to meet with you and tell you the oak’s tale.” Joel put his arm around James.

  “It is very important to James; he takes great pride in that tree and its history. He doesn’t share his stories with just anyone.” Grace confirmed what Phoebe had said earlier.

  This humbled Chloe. She obviously had James’ trust and would not do anything to compromise that, and so she would wait until he gave her permission to meet with his grandparents. They all greeted each other goodbye then Phoebe and Chloe dashed into the nearest shop to use the ladies’ room so Chloe could wipe the silly moustache off her face before she embarrassed herself any more. They erupted into giggles all over again as soon as they were out of earshot of James and his grandparents. They decided it was time to get back to the café; Phoebe needed to prepare for the next day and Chloe needed to finish sorting and packing. She was going to be moving into her new home in the morning, and would at least have a week to settle in before beginning her new job. It had been an amazing day. Chloe felt so alive, so rejuvenated, just from having some girl time.

  The next morning, before moving, Chloe met with James, as had become their daily ritual. They checked for newly fallen acorns, went through the sorting and zip locking process, and for the rest of the time sat quietly together. By the end of that morning session they had collected sixty healthy acorns in total. James explained that the acorns would fall throughout autumn so he would collect for another two weeks more. He wanted at least two hundred acorns. She sensed he was about to tell her a bit more. She noticed him spending a bit more time with inspecting the acorns this morning, and there was one different zip lock bag. Where the others were all clear, this one was pink. They were just packing up when James began to say something.

  “I will tell you,” he said quietly.

  “Tell me what?” Chloe asked hopefully.

  “Why I am collecting acorns. Then you are welcome to speak with my grandparents about the history of this tree – they tell the story much better than I can.”

  Chloe’s eyes filled with tears.

  “I would like that so much James.”

  He started slowly, cupping an acorn in his hands; he lifted it up for her to see.

  “Look at this tiny acorn. It is small and vulnerable. Many get eaten by insects, birds and squirrels. But the few that make it…” he paused and turned to look up at the tree.

  “This tiny little acorn has everything it needs inside to grow into a giant oak tree.”

  Chloe caught her breath. The power in this little
boy’s words hit her with a force she had never experienced.

  “My grandfather told me the story of this oak tree,” he continued, “and that each acorn is like a dream that we hold inside our hearts. Not all dreams make it into giant oaks, but those that are cared for and nourished properly stand a far greater chance.”

  Tears streamed down Chloe’s face as she listened to James speak.

  “I want to give everyone an acorn. Everyone needs a dream. Everyone needs an acorn that has the potential to become a giant oak.”

  Chloe wiped her eyes.

  “James, that is the most beautiful thing I have ever heard. Thank you for sharing that with me.”

  He smiled up at her sweetly.

  “My grandparents planted their acorn, together, when they were around my age. Look at their oak. Look at them.”

  He was so right. She had seen their love the moment she had first seen them walking on the beach. She couldn’t wait to hear their story. To hear how a love lasted from childhood through many decades to appear as it was now, unshakeable.

  “James, would you let your grandparents know you are ready for them to meet with me. I will be moving into my new home today, but they can reach me at Tea for Two through Phoebe. Or just tell me tomorrow when we meet what they say.”

  He picked up the cooler box and waved goodbye as he replied:

  “I will ask them. Thank you for helping me Chloe.”

  Chloe left, feeling lightness in her heart that came from discovering unspoilt beauty in the heart of a human being. She had already packed her car earlier and so she drove to her new home. She didn’t feel like company, even Phoebe’s, just yet. She needed time to fully comprehend what she had just heard and been exposed to.

  She unpacked her car and repacked her apartment, moving furniture and personalising her space. She really felt that she fitted in this space - it was lovely. She found a special place for the old drawing of the oak tree that she had bought at the antique shop. She wondered about its artist and if he or she was still around, or even a local at the time. She finished unpacking and decided to curl up with a book on the couch for an hour or two. She had been so busy organising the last few days, so she just needed some quiet time.