Raewyn of decocraftsdigicrafts  invited me to take part in the Five Photos, Five Stories Challenge.  Thanks, Raewyn! The challenge is  to “post a photo each day for five consecutive days and attach a story to the photo. It can be fiction or non-fiction, a poem or a short paragraph and each day nominate another blogger for the challenge”.

Day 2:

© irene waters 2015

The grass was green despite the dryness of the ground beneath. The parched wide riverbeds with mud cracked by the unrelenting exposure to the sun made it difficult to imagine that  there would ever be enough water to fill them. The trees, over the centuries had adapted to the harsh conditions by storing water in their trunks which had become bottle-like.

“This is where we’re building.” Sean told Catriona.

“No it’s too tough here.”

“But look Cat. See all the prickly pear. We can have all we want. It was used as far back as 65 BC.”

“How’d you know that?”

“Carbon dated shit, that’s how. The Aztecs used it for everything. Like we can. Building materials, firewood, starch, food, medicine. We’ll never be ill. It’s good for respiratory problems, arteriosclerosis, diarrhoea and sore throats. The pads can be heated and used for bed warmers or muscle aches and pains. The gel will help bruising, burns and cuts. And even though it is great for stopping diarrhoea it can also be a laxative, a skin softener and pain-killer. Why would you want to live anywhere else. It is so expensive to buy in the health food store.”

Sean donned some gloves and picked some of the crimson fruits. He scrubbed the tiny hair like thorns from the fruit’s surface ensuring all barbs were gone before he ate one after another with glee. “Tastes somewhere between bubblegum and watermelon.” he said.

Within minutes he was clutching his stomach, writhing in pain before convulsing and lapsing into unconsciousness. “I guess you didn’t know that they are classified as a noxious weed in Australia and the government uses some pretty toxic poisons to eradicate them.” Catriona smiled at the lifeless Sean. “Well at least I don’t have to make this place my home.”

So now I’m supposed to invite someone else to join in the fun. That’s easy, I nominate Ula  from Confessions of a Broccoli Addict. No obligation, Ula!