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Clay and Dot, cut and bruised, emerged from the stand of cassias. The canes on which the bright yellow flowers erupted had been thick and unyielding as they pushed through them to the bark of the tree in their search for signs of the green lunar moth and the brown Condica Videns.
“I’m hungry. Let’s get some grub.” Clay said.
“Okay. We’re not going to find any today.”
On arrival at the drive through collection window Dot grabbed Clay’s shoulder, pointing.
“We were looking under the wrong golden arches.”
“I guess they don’t know the difference. Both can kill you.”
In response to Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers. Join in you would be more than welcome. Other entries can be seen by following the blue frog and Rochelle’s post.
The cassia was my grandmother’s favourite tree. It required no care and was self-sown from the birds that feasted on its seed pods. The flowers were a lovely bright yellow and could either be a small tree or pruned into a shrub. It is now classified in many states of Australia as a noxious weed. What I didn’t know is that it is a source of cinnamon which until finding out today that it can be toxic I have been eating a lot of. It has great anti-infection properties and I am never sick. However, people ask me why I bruise so easily. Perhaps now I know the answer. Ceylon cinnamon does not have the same properties (it has less of them) but cinnamon made from Cassia is high in coumarin, another name for warfarin. Apparently cassia cinnamon is commonly used in the States where Ceylon cinnamon is used in the U.K. I don’t know where our cinnamon comes from in Australia.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Oh the irony, that what you seek shall arrive when you stop looking.
And the photo – are you paying them scale?
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Isn’t that often the way.
Thanks for making me notice I didn’t attribute the photo to its rightful owner Madison Woods. Perhaps she is paying them.
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Interesting story Irene and even more interesting footnote. Thanks for that information.
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Glad you enjoyed it Sandra
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Oh, the cinnamon girl. Thanks for teaching me something. That was fascinating.
Moths are where you find them I guess.
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I found it fascinating also. All I expected to find out was what moths I could expect to find munching on its leaves.
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Loved the story and the footnote is very interesting!
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Thanks Joy. Amzing what you learn from these flashes.
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Interesting info regarding the cinnamon. I also bruise easily here in Florida and also in South Africa. I do have quite a lot of cinnamon on my Chai Lattes. Maybe that’s why. Just before I read your story, I was reading an article on our South African news about someone finding a snail in their McDonalds meal. 🙂
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I guess that means that at least they use real lettuce that they don’t wash too well. The cinnamon is something to ponder re bruising. 🙂
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Haha! 😀
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The footnote was so enlightening … I know that we can get two kinds of cinnamon.. Only case when I care is when making mulled wine.
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Now that is important.
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Fun story and interesting background. It’s always good to have information about the food we eat.
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We probably wouldn’t eat anything if we knew everything about the plant and the methods it has grown under.
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Ha, ha! This is true!
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I hope not but I fear it possibly is…..
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Love the footnote, and yes they both can kill! Well done!
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Thanks Yolanda. Glad you liked it.
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That’s funny! The wrong golden arches! The information about cinnamon is also interesting. I knew it was supposed to be good for heart health. Didn’t realise the similarity to warfarin though.
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I didn’t realise it either. I eat it at breakfast and as a treat after dinner because I knew it was supposed to be very good for you. Someone else has told me it is supposed to minimise the risk of getting diabetes. It is fascinating what you find out as a result of a flash prompt and a little bit of research.
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Definitely – another advantage of joining in the challenge. Who knows where the prompt may lead. 🙂
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Dear Irene,
Don’t you love the research trail? Good last line.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, Glad you liked the last line and I do love the research trail. I have to say that I am also caught in your book. The characters have captivated me and I can’t put it down. I find how they are treated just horrendous and I read on with great trepidation. Cheers Irene
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The final line is spot on.
I put cinnamon in my morning smoothie. Makes it taste wonderful and is supposed to deter diabetes which runs in our family.
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Thanks. I hope the cinnamon works for you. I have it in my breakfast and in my night time snack as it is supposed to be a wonder food. I’m not going to stop but I have found it interesting.
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Killer last line (no pun intended). Loved the bit about cinnamon, I better start taking it too 🙂
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Thanks. Glad the last line worked for you. Cinnamon I think is a good spice to add to the day (just not in huge amounts.) 🙂
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A creative story, and wonderful foot-note!
(I also loved your About information.)
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I’m glad you enjoyed the story and about me generally. I’m glad you dropped by. cheers Irene 🙂
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The footnote provides interesting insights.
I use cinnamom along with other spices in my daily cooking and onice in a while powdered cinnamon is used to brew tea.
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I would never of thought of using powdered cinnamon for tea. Do you use the bark for cooking. I had some once but didn’t know what to do with it. I admit I use the powdered for almost everything.
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Funny what a little research can do for your story.
Good job!
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Thanks Dawn
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That’s fascinating about Cassia being high in coumarin. I guess you never know where FF will take you. Excellent work! Beware of those golden arches, no matter what or where.
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I used to go to the golden arches only for the free internet but there is no longer any need as I have a mobile modem now. I think I’m safe.
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