family, so the field was definitely limited.
“We all share ownership of about one hundred-sixty acres,” Liberty continued. “All of us families have our own houses where we live and sleep. There’s a central building where we cook and eat meals, as well as four bunkrooms for visitors or singles. We share chores and either work in the fields or take care of the animals.” Liberty smiled wistfully. “Most of the animals belong to The Farm except for the alpacas. They’re all mine.”
“Who’s taking care of them for you?”
“My mom. She’s really good with animals. They talk to her.”
“I heard somewhere that they hum.”
“Oh they do. It sounds so cute, like they’re trying to harmonize,” Liberty said with a chuckle. “But Mom says she can read their auras.”
Okay, now it was getting weird. “Like the dog whisperer?”
“Who is that?” Liberty asked without recognition.
“You know, that guy on TV who talks to dogs ,” I explained.
“We don’t have television. I’ve never actually seen one except when we go into town and there are TVs in the stores.”
“Really, no television?” Now it was my turn to be shocked. How could a person live without watching TV? “What do you do for entertainment?”
“We read a lot, sew all our own clothes and we have sing-alongs.”
“Like Karaoke?” I asked.
“What’s that?”
I laughed. “Another thing to add to your list of things to do. But you and I are at a disadvantage. Karaoke sounds much better when you’re drunk.”
“I’ve never been drunk,” Liberty admitted. “We make some wine from our grapes and other fruit, but I only drink it on holidays.”
“Yeah, well I’ve been drunk, but I try not to drink over my limit.”
“ Why aren’t you drinking now?”
“Oh ...uh, I’m sort of still in training. I have to work hard to get it out of my system, so I just avoid it,” I explained. I glanced off to my right and saw that Christopher was looking at me. He gave me that little half grin again, then turned back to Reno who was raving about Ducatis.
Our pizzas arrived right then and all conversation about vehicles stopped while we distributed plates and napkins. Honey girl placed a veggie burger in front of Liberty that even to me, a dedicated carnivore, looked pretty good.
“These are the biggest pizzas I’ve ever seen!” Tulsa exclaimed.
“Try one of these.” Christopher put a piece of the Pulled Pork Pizza on my plate even though I was reaching for the other kind.”
“I don’t know …,” I started to protest.
“Trust me. It’s good.” He smiled, but this time the smile actually touched his eyes and I knew he wasn’t laughing at me, but trying to be friendly.
“Thanks.” I set my plate down and cut off a piece. I had to eat it with a fork because there was so much pork and coleslaw on it. I took the first bite tentatively, not expecting to like it, but the surprising mix of flavors was delicious. I knew my surprise must have registered on my face because Christopher’s smile widened. “Wow!” was all I could say as I cut off another piece and forked it into my mouth.
Between bites, the conversation bounced to more general topics, and both Liberty and I were able to contribute. We laughed a lot, more than I would have expected from people who had been strangers a little more than twenty-four hours ago. Luckily, all the anger we had toward Roger and his bizarre contribution to our lives didn’t melt over into our relationship with each other. It actually served as a bond that was stronger than just blood.
Christopher paid the check and we waited for him outside on the sidewalk that had grown increasingly busier during our meal. Weekends, even in summer were times to drink, party and cruise for hook-ups by the thousands of students that were either full-time residents or going to summer session. While there was a wide range of ages,
“We all share ownership of about one hundred-sixty acres,” Liberty continued. “All of us families have our own houses where we live and sleep. There’s a central building where we cook and eat meals, as well as four bunkrooms for visitors or singles. We share chores and either work in the fields or take care of the animals.” Liberty smiled wistfully. “Most of the animals belong to The Farm except for the alpacas. They’re all mine.”
“Who’s taking care of them for you?”
“My mom. She’s really good with animals. They talk to her.”
“I heard somewhere that they hum.”
“Oh they do. It sounds so cute, like they’re trying to harmonize,” Liberty said with a chuckle. “But Mom says she can read their auras.”
Okay, now it was getting weird. “Like the dog whisperer?”
“Who is that?” Liberty asked without recognition.
“You know, that guy on TV who talks to dogs ,” I explained.
“We don’t have television. I’ve never actually seen one except when we go into town and there are TVs in the stores.”
“Really, no television?” Now it was my turn to be shocked. How could a person live without watching TV? “What do you do for entertainment?”
“We read a lot, sew all our own clothes and we have sing-alongs.”
“Like Karaoke?” I asked.
“What’s that?”
I laughed. “Another thing to add to your list of things to do. But you and I are at a disadvantage. Karaoke sounds much better when you’re drunk.”
“I’ve never been drunk,” Liberty admitted. “We make some wine from our grapes and other fruit, but I only drink it on holidays.”
“Yeah, well I’ve been drunk, but I try not to drink over my limit.”
“ Why aren’t you drinking now?”
“Oh ...uh, I’m sort of still in training. I have to work hard to get it out of my system, so I just avoid it,” I explained. I glanced off to my right and saw that Christopher was looking at me. He gave me that little half grin again, then turned back to Reno who was raving about Ducatis.
Our pizzas arrived right then and all conversation about vehicles stopped while we distributed plates and napkins. Honey girl placed a veggie burger in front of Liberty that even to me, a dedicated carnivore, looked pretty good.
“These are the biggest pizzas I’ve ever seen!” Tulsa exclaimed.
“Try one of these.” Christopher put a piece of the Pulled Pork Pizza on my plate even though I was reaching for the other kind.”
“I don’t know …,” I started to protest.
“Trust me. It’s good.” He smiled, but this time the smile actually touched his eyes and I knew he wasn’t laughing at me, but trying to be friendly.
“Thanks.” I set my plate down and cut off a piece. I had to eat it with a fork because there was so much pork and coleslaw on it. I took the first bite tentatively, not expecting to like it, but the surprising mix of flavors was delicious. I knew my surprise must have registered on my face because Christopher’s smile widened. “Wow!” was all I could say as I cut off another piece and forked it into my mouth.
Between bites, the conversation bounced to more general topics, and both Liberty and I were able to contribute. We laughed a lot, more than I would have expected from people who had been strangers a little more than twenty-four hours ago. Luckily, all the anger we had toward Roger and his bizarre contribution to our lives didn’t melt over into our relationship with each other. It actually served as a bond that was stronger than just blood.
Christopher paid the check and we waited for him outside on the sidewalk that had grown increasingly busier during our meal. Weekends, even in summer were times to drink, party and cruise for hook-ups by the thousands of students that were either full-time residents or going to summer session. While there was a wide range of ages,
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