The Plum Tree

The mothers spread a plum stained blanket under the tree, and lay the babies down, patting their backs. They listen for the sch, dedh, t-te sounds of plums dropping through leaves and hitting the ground around them. Then they stand and gather up the ones- Soft, some slightly split, bursting- The perfect ones and eat them, plum juice staining their mouths and fingers. They laugh and spit the pits away, like the boys do.