Rebellion in Onyx
Theysayifyouaccidentallyswallowawatermelonseed,it’llgrowinsideyou.Theydon’tsay where,orhowwithoutsunlight.Onlythatyourinsidesturnalushbrightpinkandstripedgreen, mottledwithtinyseedsoftheirown.
Naturally,Iassumedthatthat’swherewatermelonscamefrom.Farmerssittingback,biding theirtimeandpoppingoutthekaleidoscopicfruitsoftheirlabors,every80days.Likeswollen snakesthathadeatenamealfarbeyondtheirmeans,nowwaitingpatientlytodigest.Itwasa fairassumptionandquiteanentrepreneurialoneatthat,foran8yearold.
Inthepeaceandprivateofheadsondesksdaydreams,Iwonderedlazilywhatelsecouldbe fruitfullygrownathome.Asafternoonsunstoleinthroughschoolwindows,turningScienceinto asauna,visionsofSugarPlumFarmersdancedinmyhead.
Playingasilentgameofchickeneverytimeweatewatermelon,werelishedtheideaofmissing MathandbinningBiologywhenweweretobecomebusinessowners.Spendingourdays thinkingwhatwe’dspenditon.Ourhardearnedmoney,pocketedfrompips.
IworkedonawatermelonfarminAustraliawhenIwas21,andsawinsurpriseasmybody grewtaughtandsinewy,ropesofmusclessprawlingacrossmybacklikeanimalswriggling undertheskin.Quitetheoppositeofthefatandfruitfulfarmersofmymind’seye.Wewerepaid ameaslyamount,butcouldgorgeourselvesonsweetmelonstoourheart’scontent,andtill tracksofstickyjuicerandowntoourelbows.
SomedaysIlayaroundinthestartlingcoolofclearskiednights,clutchingmyswollenstomach. Iimagineditsuddenlypink,stripedgreenandpepperedwithitsowngleefulseaofseeds.A sweetnostalgiaforschooldaysnacks,andeachbiteabrightblackjewelofdefiance-aquiet rebellioninonyx.