The summer I spent as an idler in the countryside was a time of simple joys and profound discoveries. I wandered like a sparrow, my heart light and my spirit free, drinking in the vibrant life around me. The farmers, always welcoming, offered me their bitter tea, stored in barrels beneath the shady trees on the ridges of the fields. I scooped the tea into stained bowls without hesitation, savoring its earthy taste as I chatted with the men laboring in the fields.
One afternoon, I found myself sitting with an old man who was guarding a melon field. His skin was weathered like the bark of an ancient tree, and his eyes held stories untold. We talked for hours, sharing tales and laughter, while I devoured the sweetest melons I'd ever tasted. As I attempted to stand, I realized my belly was comically distended, and we both laughed heartily at my waddle, akin to a pregnant woman.
Later, I sat on the doorstep of a house with a grandmother weaving straw sandals. Her hands moved with practiced ease as she sang "Ten Months of Pregnancy," her voice a soothing melody that mingled with the evening air. "These sandals will carry you far," she said with a knowing smile, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
As dusk settled, I watched the farmers pour well water onto the dusty ground, the steam rising like spirits into the cooling night. The young women chatted with the men, their laughter ringing softly in the warm, starry evening. I sat among them, tasting their homemade pickles, as salty as the sea, feeling a deep sense of belonging.
At the end of each day, I would wander to the edge of the fields, the moonlight guiding my steps. "Will you return?" the old man had asked earlier, his voice carrying a note of hope. I had only smiled in response, knowing that while my journey might take me elsewhere, the memories of this summer would remain with me always.
As the season turned, I knew I would soon leave the countryside, but its essence had seeped into my soul. The songs, the laughter, the shared moments—each had become a part of me. I set out with my kettle in hand, ready for the next adventure, but forever changed by the summer when I was a sparrow, free to fly wherever the wind took me.
