Part 2:
For the oranges, coming to Town Worth meant adjusting to somewhere new.
Living on the run, out in fresh air, was all they’d ever known.
Sal, Axxey and Cray traded open skies for four walls and a roof.
The only time they left Rick’s house was in the duffel bag: on trips to the grocery store or the dry-cleaning place.
Every day I’d visit them after school.
Life with the oranges meant something was always happening.
Cray splashing in the bathtub, or Axxey sunning on a windowsill; Sal investigating the spin of the washer or the gurgle of the coffee pot.
Living on the run, out in fresh air, was all they’d ever known.
Sal, Axxey and Cray traded open skies for four walls and a roof.
The only time they left Rick’s house was in the duffel bag: on trips to the grocery store or the dry-cleaning place.
Every day I’d visit them after school.
Life with the oranges meant something was always happening.
Cray splashing in the bathtub, or Axxey sunning on a windowsill; Sal investigating the spin of the washer or the gurgle of the coffee pot.
The oranges became easier to identify, standing out more as individuals.
Sal appeared slightly bigger than the other two.
Axxey carried a hint of yellow at her crown.
Cray had a little flat spot in the arc of his peel.
None of the this was apparent at first; they were the details you only noticed once friends.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A warm yet drizzly day blew into town a week later.
We decided to risk a trip to the park.
Fewer people on a wet day!
The oranges stormed the grounds, rolling madly in all directions.
Dormant swings soon bobbed and swayed.
They went spinning, one after another, down the slides.
Sal appeared slightly bigger than the other two.
Axxey carried a hint of yellow at her crown.
Cray had a little flat spot in the arc of his peel.
None of the this was apparent at first; they were the details you only noticed once friends.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A warm yet drizzly day blew into town a week later.
We decided to risk a trip to the park.
Fewer people on a wet day!
The oranges stormed the grounds, rolling madly in all directions.
Dormant swings soon bobbed and swayed.
They went spinning, one after another, down the slides.
They were boisterous, but who could blame them?
Even so, they remained their usual thoughtful selves.
I even got them to pose for me!
Even so, they remained their usual thoughtful selves.
I even got them to pose for me!
A cluster of trees became their next target.
Howling, high-jumping competitors soared over branches.
Leaping ever higher, they always eased down with grace and balance.
And a hollowed-out stump made the perfect basketball hoop.
Howling, high-jumping competitors soared over branches.
Leaping ever higher, they always eased down with grace and balance.
And a hollowed-out stump made the perfect basketball hoop.
The good humor of the morning was undeniable.
We happily left them to their fun.
Many minutes went by without even checking on the oranges.
Imagine our surprise when we looked down and saw them right at Rick's feet.
“We’ve gotta go,” Cray said. “Right now.”
All three of them were shaking.
We happily left them to their fun.
Many minutes went by without even checking on the oranges.
Imagine our surprise when we looked down and saw them right at Rick's feet.
“We’ve gotta go,” Cray said. “Right now.”
All three of them were shaking.