Forbidden Graces, Book One: Beginnings. Carol Inc. Bridges

cornbread Keara had made. Neither Roan nor Keara liked to cook very often and preferred either fresh, live food or warm, comforting breads and cakes that reminded them of childhood. They did allow themselves occasional meat or fish if it was presented to them.

      Roan was rather strict with himself, some belief about purification that arose out of his yogic tradition. Keara didn’t mind as long as she was free to choose her individual differences of dietary opinion. She liked the ease of raw foods and the vitality that she felt from eating them. But, it was too hard to give up cornbread, chocolate chip cookies and carrot cake.

      The vegetables and grains prided themselves on how thoroughly they were appreciated by people of spiritual consciousness. The fish pointed out that they had been the primary food for many a tribe throughout the centuries, not only loved for their taste, but appreciated for the sport of catching them. The four-leggeds said, “Sport? I think we have you swimmer’s beat in that regard. We have given hunters a grand test of their prowess and have not only provided entire clans with food, but given hides and bones and sinew for their homes, clothing, instruments and tools.”

      “Yes, said the vegetables, but that time is past. There are not enough of you left to feed all of humankind. So many of your species are dying out, and there are so many humans to feed.”

      The fruits joined in saying, “We have been here from the very beginning and always shall be. Humans enjoy our sweetness. We return each year without the need to be replanted and are, therefore, very energy-efficient.”

      “Let’s not argue,” said the fliers. Each of you have done your job well, satisfying many tastes in many locations. What we need to think about now is how to keep our habitats intact. What with the human population expanding beyond the current capacity of the Earth’s ability to provide sustenance for us all, we are facing a huge dilemma. We fly over great expanses during our migrations and see the diminishing forests, the spoiled waterways, the clouds of pollution and feel the fiery intensity of the increase in electromagnetic fields. It is a changed world from what we have known for all of our ancestral lives.”

      The swimmers, the four-leggeds, the vegetables, grains and fruits all fell silent, knowing the fliers words to be true. “But, someone must care,” said a small voice within the crowd.” “Surely, yes,” others responded. “I know of several,” said Salmon. They come to remove the dam from my river up north.” “I have heard of classes which teach gardening without the use of chemicals.” “I know of humans who are protesting the animal factory farms. “Oh, don’t even talk about that,” said a fearful hen. “Yes, let’s be positive,” another voice spoke.