free soup

The sign promised

lunchtime free soup

at the drive-in.

Karen and Richie

never showed up

later than twelve fifteen

lest they miss

the best bits and pieces

and have to settle

for pale salty broth.

Been kind of tough

since they followed

the sun out from

Des Moines, paying

for gas mostly in coin.

the first week they

were there, they got

a four day gig

delivering phone books.

when the motor

in the mini truck died,

they were stuck and

decided to thumb a ride

up the coast –Richie

had heard about a place

where the people

were supposed to be cool,

some old timber land

gone to brush, the new folks

were growing their own stuff,

kale and corn, runner beans,

pumpkins and such. a few

chickens and ducks.

they'd have to build

their own shelter,

there was plenty of scrap

left by the defunct

logging company.

meanwhile they could

rig up a tent, borrow

some tools, Richie had

worked construction

a few years before,

Karen could help in the garden

in exchange for a share

of the harvest. it sounded

real appealing, so they

left town early one morning

picturing themselves gleaning

a sweet life on the fat

of the land. took most

of the day, but by

late afternoon, they

walked down the rutted

driveway to a ramshackle

house built up against

the fifteen foot stump

of a tree. the hollow inside

had been lined with stones

to fashion a fireplace

and a chimney. ivy and wild

grape grew up the sides.

it had an air of the magical.

They knocked on the door

and a big aproned woman

opened it wide, invited them

to step inside, offered

a cup of nettle

and blackberry tea.

welcome to blackberry

ranch, she said. what

brings you here?

we heard this was

a cool place, and

we want to live here.

i see. what have you

brought to contribute?

i'm afraid we don't

have enough food

to just take you in,

do you have any money?

they dug through their

pockets and counted out

twenty four dollars

and thirty two cents.

that'll help said the woman

kindly. would you like

some more tea?

yes please, it's really good,

thank you. It's been a long

day, I'm suddenly feeling

very sleepy, Karen said.

Richie was yawning too.

soon they were dreaming

of sunny meadows and

children dancing around

maypoles, with garlands

of daisies woven into

their hair.