excerpt
The boys spend their days just like they did before, swimming in the
sea and going on hunting expeditions. Anthony makes Eteocles a
new slingshot, a bigger one this time. Sometimes Eteocles also helps
Anthony or Yanni in the fields, watering the melon patches or the
tomato fields, or gathering the clover and making bales of it, chores
the boys of the village have always done. Eteocles loves it all and
learns something new every day. He certainly learns how to use his
slingshot more accurately and manages to hit the birds almost without
fail.
This morning Anthony gets him up extra early since they have
to go make bales out of the cut clover. They cut the clover a few days
ago and left it to dry. Now it’s time to rake it into big bunches, haul
out a wood frame, fill it with clover, and then stomp it into a firm
shape. After that, they will use wire to tie the bundles into bales. It is
tricky work, but Eteocles enjoys the process. His favorite part is
pulling the wire as hard as he can to tighten it around the bales.
That morning they arrive at the clover field before the sun is up
and after raking the rows of dried clover into piles of the right size,
Anthony suggests they take a short break. He walks to the neighbouring
field, to a watermelon patch that belongs to another villager, takes
a ripened watermelon and slices it into four parts. Then they each
savor their share of the sweet, cool fruit before carrying on with the
baling.
Two hours later they have done their twenty-four bales and are
ready to walk back to the village. Eteocles has his slingshot with him,
and on their walk back through the fields, Anthony points out a
goldfinch on top of a wire fence. Eteocles looks on the ground and
finds a good round stone, places it in his slingshot and slowly walks
toward the bird until he thinks he is close enough. He aims, shoots,
and misses. The bird remains sitting and chirping after the stone flies
by it. “I thought you were an expert now,” Anthony says and laughs.
Eteocles doesn’t give up. He finds another stone of the right size
and shape, and takes aim again when, to his surprise, the bird suddenly
flies off, still chirping.
“Ha ha ha,” Anthony mocks.
Libros Libertad 