Just Me And You

Just Me And You

By Paul McCann

It was 1847 and the people worked the crops no more and the wind blew icy cold through the fields with a cry that echoed all across the land that begged for an answer but no words returned .
Who was to blame for all the men, women and children who had died from hunger and no one saw them except for few who buried them in the ground and near the coast they were buried in the sand with their bones still sticking out as the waves crashed like thunder on the shore .

Thousands of ships were sailing to other countries with the starving on board in search for another land that would help them and in exile they said their prayers and sang their songs as their journey they were on went on and on as the ship left the famine land far behind .  .
No one could lend a hand to those below deck  who were weeping for justice and their tears flowed down their haggard faces as hunger pain’s rumbled in their belly .  Millions had already died but there were some who remained on the famine land , hiding in places away from the invaders who came ,

A brave young couple , refused to leave their homeland and they lived in a cave down at the beach and kept out of the wind and the rain and they slept on the sand and caught fish in the sea that fed them and they stayed together there with their faith and hope for a better future , existing on whatever food they could find and in abject poverty they were not ashamed to be  .

They woke up and got to their feet and stood at the entrance of the cave as the sun rose up on the distant horizon and they held hands .

Then he said to her,

“Its just you and me now. “

And she smiled and said  ,

“Our love will keep us alive “

’Wiping the sleep from their eyes they made their way to the shore for they knew the early morning shellfish would be there just underneath the sand where the ebb of the tide came in and out , They twisted their feet in the sand until they felt the shell there and then took them out from the sand and piled  them up on the shore  

. 

“Every day is like the tide .it has an ebb and a flow , it will come and then it goes ?”

She said and he responded ,

“Sure enough , like big boats and little days , little boats and big days. All our problems  are the same but together me and you , we’ll make our way each day . Tomorrow will have another ebb and it will come and go again . “

“Do you think the hunger and disease in our land will ever go away ?”

She asked and he answered ,

“ I am proud to say we have a nation of living Saints here on this land and as we walk and talk , the day will come when this land will be blessed because of the suffering we are going through .“

“So do you think any of those who left the land will ever return ?”

She asked and he replied ,

“ God only knows , but all we have is each other , We are young and we will find a way , There’s no comfort the wealthy who refuse to help or ease the  suffering of our people .Our day will come and we shall be living like Kings and Queens again .“

“Today we live and love here in this land and our love will keep us alive “

She said ,

They took their shellfish back to the cave and smashed them one by one to eat the meat within  .

That morning there was a darkness that covered the sky and strong winds began to toss the sea around , they took shelter in their cave as gale force winds arrived . They lay down holding on to each all day and night until morning came and the storm had passed . They got up and stood  by the entrance of the cave to see the sunrise and were surprised to find lots of wooden chests and other bit and pieces washed up on the shore .

“Looks like there’ been a shipwrecked at sea . Come and look at what we have “

He said and she replied ,

“Oh, the sea can be kind and cruel . She gives and she takes . This morning, she has brough us gifts “

As they plucked through the boxes , they found food and clothes . pots and pans , blankets and some tools . They carried everything back to the cave and store it all safely out of sight . Then they had an idea to go into the fields to  rebuild one of the houses that had been demolished .

Every day after that they did a little bit and a little bit more .. As the months passed the house was almost liveable  ,

“ This is where we can start our family “

She said and he replied .

“ I can’t see why not after all , its me and you with our own little crew around us . Everything will be just fine “

The sea had been kind to them often washing up other gifts of seed and even some Spanish gold coins .

The land began again and the wheat and barley soon was blowing in the wind There was no one to blame and no excuse for not working hard . Each day they worked in the field and grew their crops again . They had each other and their love kept them alive ,

THE END