A child in the crowd yelled, “The sweet one was better!”
I said, “See, a child knows! It’s easy to take hold of! Now, there was something else. Each of these women had a mate. One woman had a mate who treated her like a princess and she treated him like a prince. When he came home at night, she treated him like the most important man in the village, even though they were not rich. She told him what a great man he was and how she was more blessed than any woman in the village and though I blush to tell you this part, when they went to their furs, this woman was subjected to ‘the little death’ many times each month!”
The crowd laughed and a child asked, “What does that mean?” but he was quickly hushed.
I said, “But consider the other woman. She went to her home and when her mate came, she dropped a plate of bitter fruit and a piece of dry bread in front of him and sat and complained about her day and he told her how miserable he was with their lives. After dinner, they both went to a cold bed and slept with their backs to each other and thought bitterly of how long it had been since either one of them had any pleasure.
Now, you have the story. A test. Who can tell me which man had the warm bed and why?”
A woman yelled out, “It was the one who told his mate that when he drank her nectar that it was worth ten times what he paid for it!” and everyone laughed again.
I smiled and said, “Just so! This is so easy to understand. It’s not a hidden mystery! This man, though he wasn’t rich, never complained about how much his princess paid for fruit. The fruit he sucked at was worth so much more than that!”
Then I held up my one piece of fruit and looked at it and said, “Thank you for listening to my story. I’ve stayed too long. My fruit gets ripe as we stand gabbing. It’s time that I take these princesses home and share my fruit with them. But, I would encourage you men here to run quickly and buy the same fruit that I do before it’s all gone. It may not last forever.”
Then to the girl I said, “You’ll sell a lot of fruit today. Take whatever price they offer you and don’t discourage them. You will make many women happy this afternoon.”
I turned before she could answer, but she smiled very big, and Aeyli, Rani, and Belle, and I walked away toward Tronuck’s house.
Belle said, “Is it true? Will you take us home and share your fruit?!” as she clung to my arm.
I leaned down and kissed her briefly and said, “Not immediately. But soon enough. Aeyli, do you still think that you should talk to your grandfather?”
She said, “More than ever! The whole village will know your story by this evening. Give it half an hour and Tronuck will have heard it. I’ll go to him in a little while and suggest a meeting. Do you have another story for tonight?”
I said, “I have a very good story for tonight.”
Aeyli said, “Do you want to declare for Sashar tonight as well as Alexia. It can be done if you want to. Two more in one night is unheard of, except when you did it last night, but it would be a fun thing to do.”
I said, “This is about the third time that you have mentioned Sashar, but I have never met her. Even if I said OK, even if I said I would declare for her sight unseen, she hasn’t chosen me.”
All three girls laughed and said, “Sashar, the girl who sells fruit at ten times its price will choose you if she’s given the chance. Once you have stolen a girl’s heart it’s cruel not to follow through! She will choose you!”
I thought about the girl at the fruit stand. She was as beautiful as the others in her own way. Her smile is what was captivating now that I thought about it. I hadn’t given it any thought at the time, but I had found myself wanting her to like me at an unconscious level.
I said, “But, she would like me because she sold a lot of fruit.”
Aeyli said, “Mark, things are not as complicated here as on Earth I think. Let me ask, when you met your mate on Earth, how long did you know her before you declared for her as your mate?”
I thought about it and said, “We met at an office party, um, a dinner gathering. Two months later we began spending some time together. After a year, I asked if she would accept me. Eight months later, we were mated. So, it took just about two years, but that was fast for many on Earth.”
Rani said, “They are an insane people!”
Aeyli said, “You don’t know some of the insanities that he has told me about Earth. It is a disgusting place in how people treat each other. It’s a wonder that they haven’t had their own Fall of Time.”
Belle said, “No, Mark, we’ll do this properly. It was important that Alexia was given time to think because she’s an odd girl and would never consent if it had been done right. But for Sashar, it will be done right. You are in our hands. And… never mind, my thoughts drifted. It will be done right. Tonight after you teach, Aeyli will say that you declare for Alexia and then you will call Sashar and she will say if she will accept you: the way that it should be done.”
Rani said, “She will accept. I know she will. When she accepts, then Aeyli will declare for Sashar as well.”
Aeyli said, “This is wonderful. The world should always change every day!”
I said, “But not by adding two princesses!”
Belle said, “No, not every day. But we said six to start. We have four with Alexia and five with Sashar. That’s good enough for now. Besides, Mark has a lot to teach at home as well as at the market.”
Rani said, “And speaking of that, Mark, that was something that has never been seen! What you taught benefits not you or a single person, but the entire village. You told a story and nothing more, and that one story will change the village! It’s a big thing!”
I said, “Then someday I will tell you a story about a butterfly who changed the world.”
Chapter 21
A Short Visit with Tronuck
We arrived at the House of Tronuck and were greeted by Dorel and Farloa and Aneese, his three mates. Dorel called for Tronuck and when he came, he clasped my arm and greeted me with a hug.
He said, “Son-in-law, welcome to my home! Have you come to surprise me some more? I see that you haven’t brought any new mates! Not yet! I’m in a good mood. Sit down and visit and let me know you better.”
We moved into the living room of his home and sat all together. Farloa went to prepare refreshments and soon returned.
Tronuck said, “Again, welcome. Welcome former shrine maidens. Did you sleep well? Is your morning pleasant? Oh, yes, I’ve already heard some of it. Councilman Renwa was here a few minutes ago. He told me a story about talking fruit, but I think that he got most of it wrong because he said that he was in a hurry to get home for some reason. He seemed happy, but distracted. He said that he was most interested to see if any of his mates were home in the middle of the day. He didn’t say why.”
Aneese said, “The reason was apparent to me. Mark’s story must have been one to make the blood boil.”
Farloa said, “I was in the market today. I heard the story. I will tell it later. It’s a very good story.”
Tronuck said, “But more than a story from what I hear. Renwa said that the story teaches great lessons. I look forward to hearing it.”
Aeyli said, “That’s why we are here, Grandfather. Mark has another teaching story that he would like to tell this evening if the village would like to gather and hear it. Are the people ready for more entertainments and surprises?”
Tronuck laughed, “From what I heard today, if we don’t call to gather at the hall, the village will appear at your door and try to crowd themselves into the tiny house! We can either post a guard and block your street so that you can rest in peace or we can invite them to the council hall where a riot will be avoided. I am in a very good mood and I wish to hear a story of great wisdom. Or adventure! I don’t care which, but I want to hear it firsthand. Dorel, will you put out the word?”