RED FLOWERS

She was collecting red flowers when the soldiers arrived.
She was alone.
They teared her clothes out and used her for their pleasure.
Laughing, they went away.
I would have been ashamed being a man.

(The Olive Tree Tales)

THE HARVEST

As every autumn they started harvesting my fruits. I always like when they do it, it makes me feel loved.
They started working and it seemed as it was every year. But it wasn´t.
In between my brunches their eyes were meeting, collecting my fruits their fingers were quickly crossing, their smiles were always open to each other and, before sunset, their lips softly touched...
It was incredible but I was the only one to recognize that two of them were in love.

(The Olive Tree Tales)

THE CAR RADIO

The car radio was playing some beautiful forbidden swing and they were having fun.
Suddenly the music was interrupted and the voice of a man started speaking instead.
All the chatter and laughs stopped.
The boys exulted.
The girls´eyes were already fulfilled with tears.
It was the 10th of June 1940.

(The Olive Tree Tales)

THE BASKET

In the shadow, at my feet she left a basket; then she went to hoe in the field nearby.
She was working hard, her sweat glinted on her front and the sun didn´t have mercy that afternoon.
After some time she came back to the basket. Its content was moving, it was wrapped in white sheet; she sitted, she opened her blouse and took it to her breast.
That very day I learned how gorgeous a mother looks.

(The Olive Tree Tales)