Sunday, August 27, 2006

Tomato Tie~ Chapter 1

It’s the last year of high school; and everyone was busy preparing for the college entrance exam. Waalt didn’t worry about getting into a prestigious university because with his grades he could go to NTU with ease.

Weekend was always a time racking his nerves, because he needed to go home to help his parents on the farm. Waalt’s parents grew all sorts of vegetables and raised some cattle and chicken for living. Supposedly, he should be very comfortable with an idyllic lifestyle. The breathtaking scenery around his house and the perennial running water in the green river nearby all made up a wonderful farm life. But Walter just despised it! He wanted to get out of the tiny and quiet village on this remote east coast of Formosa…

When the first light emerged over the horizon on the Pacific, Waalt was up already. The other roommates were still asleep as they were exhausted after pulling an all-nighter doing intricate math homework. The cool autumn air sneaked into the room under the windowsills and brought a sense of refreshment. “It would be another nice day today. But shit! I have to go home,” sighed Waalt.


The twenty-minute bike ride had become a mechanical reaction for each Saturday. Although the purplish unknown wild flowers, emitting their contagious fragrance, waves their hands at Waalt on the sides of the road, he had no mood appreciating such beauty from the nature, but kept paddling his seemingly over-heavy-and- beat-up bike.

Upon arrival to the familiar yet bitter-sweet home, he felt a chill crawling down his spines. “Damn! Someday, I am going to leave this stinky place for good!” Waalt said determinedly.

On the right side of the house was the huge vegetable garden, the one Waalt’s father, James, was very proud of. He spent over ten years growing a great variety of greens and legumes. Walking down the furrows, one could easily spot rows and rows of tomato plants. They were James’ hardworking result! The humongous and crimson fruits were all worth the effort when the harvest season approached. However, those treasures were a bunch of crap in Waalt’s eyes. Every time he saw the tomato plants, a raging steam would start to boil in his blood, getting ready to explode any moment.

…To Be Continued.

No comments: