Figs

"If I had some time, I would race you to your car."
They both smiled at each other.

It was not second-graders teasing each other after school.
It was after 5:30pm Mass at Holy Family Church.
The aspirants and I had spent the morning painting and sealing our wooden fence.

Fig bushes lined the parish's grounds.
Who would've known figs were as happy to grow in Irving as in Jesus' homeland?

Figs are one of the first fruits cultivated in Asia Minor. For a time, the Greek government forbade the export of figs to insure themselves of a good outcome at the Olympics. Dried figs are about 60% sugar and humans could probably live on figs alone.

"You would race me?" he replied as sport-fully, his hunch-backed frame leaning on his cane.
"Anytime," the first returned, his silver eyebrows raised slyly.

They both hobbled in opposite directions.
Perhaps figs did not help them to retain their health in these senior years.
However, their spirits gave me a sugar-rush more than any fig.

ps. Photo credit www.keepbelieving.com