The Lemon Story.
A Short Story by Mila Lynn.
Life is what you make it.
The Lemon Story
Before I begin, this is a short story I wrote to express the feelings that arise when someone tells me Art isn’t a career. Or better yet, when they ask me what I’m going to do with my life… as if I’m just sitting with my thumb up my ass most days.
Perhaps, they just don’t see me as serious. I’m not properly educated, I don’t know the whose-who of the Art World, my contact list is shorter than my pinky, etc. All I know is with each day that passes, I am improving. Excuse me for not knowing the longitude and latitude of Picasso’s left nipple. I overstand that having knowledge gives you a level of credibility and people seem to respect you. But that will come with time. So instead of discouraging my dreams, offer guidance… or the coordinates to that nipple!
All this disparagement has allowed me to reflect on a time as a child when I’m met a lemon…
When I was about the age of 6, I remember being lost in deep meditation cycle, some people call day dreaming. Of course, typical for young children, when all of a sudden I heard a terrible sobbing. I looked down, and to my surprise the wails were coming from a lemon that must have fallen from its tree.
The lemon was quite insufferable and the tears seemed endless. I knew fruit could go sour, but not somber.
I picked the poor little citrus up, and calmed it.
“My friend why are you so upset? You have interrupted my deepest meditation.” I whispered to him. After a few deep breaths he began.
“It started many months ago when I was just a young moist fruit. My parents pulled the leaves back on life and spoke of the great times that lie ahead.
In the season to follow I made sure I did everything in my power to prepare myself for the future.
I sunbathed regularly, you know it is quite important for all growing things to have doses of Vitamin D.
I made sure I was watered abundantly. Young lemons need much more hydration than the older plants.
Eventually, the day came when I was ripe enough to be plucked and sent from the tree. I was excited for my new venture and amazed at all the other fruits I had never encountered before. Limes, oranges, grapes, and apples! We all had been harvested.
When I arrived at the Juice Factory I was confused, not knowing where to go. There was a section for grapes, a section for apples, a section for oranges, but nothing marked lemons. And I couldn’t seem to find a lemony- place…
With all the hustle and bustle I was forced to make a decision, and pushed into the Grape Squeezer. However, I am not a grape. I tried to explain this... but you see once you become a mature fruit decisions are based on rational not logic.
The Squeezer was nothing short of a horrible experience. The machine pushed, slammed, and jammed! But I could produce no juice. I must have been the only one to struggle with juicing. All the grapes around me seemed to leak with ease. It was second nature, as if the juicer was specifically made for them.
As I left the factory that day I was handed a notice marked ‘0 Pay.’I could literally feel one of my juice sacs burst inside. What a sinking feeling it is to be useless…
And this is why I am here sobbing,” it said.
Now even before the age of 6 I was always an expert problem solver. It occurred to me that the lemon was disheartened because it was trying to be a grape, which is a silly predicament in itself. So I suggested “Perhaps the Juice Factory is not the place for something of your kind. You need somewhere special to thrive and I know the perfect place!”
I put the lemon in my pocket and marched down to the Lemonade Stand at the end of the block. I passed the Lemon off and that was the last we ever saw of each other.
You see the Lemon belonged at the Lemonade Stand because... well.. that’s where Lemons go. Just as an Artist belongs in their studio, a Chef in a kitchen, and a Teacher in a classroom. One can be at peace when they are living a life that positively exploits their talents and traits. However, if you are trying to be a grape when you are anything but; you will be greatly disappointed.
Remember...
Society gives us lemons and says, “MAKE GRAPE JUICE.” It is life that encourages us to follow our passions.
Live your truth.
Mila