The two boys hopped on the freight train as Cadot, the old Ojibwen man, watched. It was a dry, windy day, typical for these Dust Bowl days of the 1930’s in America. Even though the most profound effects were in the Midwest, most of the country was affected in some way.
The two boys were from a poor white family in town. They came out to the area around Cadot’s cabin near the railroad tracks to pick blueberries. Northern Michigan was renowned for its blueberry crop. The boys picked the berries for money to support their family.
After picking as many blueberries as they could carry, the boys would hop on a passing freight train and sell their blueberries at every stop. They would ride another freighter back.
One day, the older boy came to pick blueberries alone. Cadot asked where his brother was, and he replied that he had left home after they had fought. The boy was 15 years old.
Almost ten years passed. The Dust Bowl was over, and World War II was firing up. Cadot had a visitor, and it was the boy who left home. He had come home to join the Navy. He had been sending his family money from Baltimore. When the boy left, Cadot grieved and didn’t expect to see him again.
After the war was over, there was a knock at the cabin door. There stood the boy, now a man, home from the War. His seven-year-old daughter was with him.
Thanks to C.E. Ayr and Jenne Gray for hosting the #UnicornChallenge!
The Write Scribe 
Sounds like the precis of an upcoming novel you’re working on, RM. If so, I’d love to see where it goes.
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So much in this, Rosemary – a potted history of the 30s and 40s, but brought to life through Cadot nd the boy.
Just the kind of real-life and heart-warming story to start my day well.
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Thank you so much, Jennie.
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An almost Steinbeckian feel to this somewhat rambling tale that spans a decade and a half of hard life.
Love it.
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Thank you so much! So glad you liked it!
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a time, place and characters (how difficult it can be to not follow the lives of these two characters)
enjoyable read
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Thank you!
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Lovely in a dreamy, drowsy southern comfort kind of way. A very enjoyable read, Rosemary.
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Thank you!
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So much territory covered in this. I like the returning presence of ‘Cadot’, an intriguing character who seems to act as an observer, or maybe an anchor point.
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These reads as if it were true.
Well done.
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I think he was an anchor point.
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Slightly fictionalized. Mostly true. My dad’s story.
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