Image by Smimbipi
The heat eats away the breeze that tries to enter through the windows and a steam that can almost be touched makes the inhabitants of Naranjas, go through the town exhausted and sweaty. It is a difficult time of the year, the weather makes it impossible for them to work, the orange trees stop bearing fruit because of the lack of water and everyone is forced to eat and drink different things, something they are not used to.
In Naranjas, from its foundation onwards orange trees have been planted, its inhabitants are very skilled at making them grow and they have become the best in the country, this fruit is their specialty, but it is also their greatest delight, they have learned to combine them with everything and boy, do they make it work! But also, the people distribute them to the whole country and even to some places outside of it, so this beloved fruit also allows them to have money to live, until this time of the year arrives.
Although they are prepared for these times, as almost everyone in the village has savings, the lack of oranges is something they can't get used to, the food seems tasteless and the drinks don't seem refreshing. For the custom has existed since before most of them were born. However, within one of the families of Naranjas, one stands out for its ability to take care of these trees, the Jones, they are descendants of the founders and have earned the respect of the whole town.
Imagen by Any Lane
Every year, the Joneses keep some frozen reserves to be able to distribute them at least for a few days to each of the people of Naranjas, an act that has earned them the affection of everyone. Live Jones, the youngest daughter of the family, is in charge of handing them out until they run out, she does it with a good attitude and even happily. But this family keeps a big secret, Live hates oranges, she dislikes their taste, their aroma and she has been eating everything all her life without a hint of orange.
If someone found out about this, the respect they have for the family would be lost, after all, the orange is what distinguishes that town and everyone in it loves it. This is the happiest time of Live's life, he can freely eat orange-free food in the street or even leave the house without the smell of oranges making him nauseous. It is true that the intense heat doesn't let anyone do anything, but Live even in these conditions, she feels free, content and without having to pretend.
She has carried a heavy burden for years, but these days she can take it off her shoulders for a moment, without being the disappointment of the family. Day by day Live is reproached for that, and they hold out hope that she will change her mind and begin to enjoy the rich taste of this fruit as they do. However, Live, who lives dejectedly, only wishes to be understood and that finally it is not seen as an act of contempt, not to enjoy the oranges and to be able to live without them.
The days passed and the conditions were favorable to start with the daily work, from preparing the soil to using the old dried leaves for flavoring, everyone is kept busy in their field and the usual citrus smell quickly permeated the whole place. Live, locked up at home, already a bit exhausted felt terrified, she couldn't wait until next year and hiding from her family, she went out with a huge sign in her hands that read.
I am Live, inhabitant of Naranjas and I don't like oranges".
Upon reading this, the town was dismayed, they did not understand how a relative of the founders of Naranjas could think like that, it was the first time it happened and they did not know how to react to it. Live's father took her with him inside his house by force, while she cried screaming that she did not want to be locked up any longer. Her plan seemed to have failed and sadness flooded her as she imagined her life hidden in her home, while her family hid who she was and how she felt to keep up appearances.
Image by Tama66
That night she fell asleep crying and when she woke up, she noticed that there was someone in front of her house, she could not go out so she watched as she took a paper out of her pocket and when she opened it she said.
Hello, I'm Mary and I don't like oranges either".
That surprised Live a lot, she knew she was not the only one who felt that way in that place and took the strength to talk to her family. She was different from them, with different tastes and a different way of thinking, that didn't mean that she didn't like her family or that she rejected them, she just preferred the taste of other fruits. It was a hard thing to accept, but eventually Live got permission to plant other fruits in his garden and many times, some people came to him to taste their flavor.
Oranges did not stop being called that way, but in the town there were no longer only oranges, other fruits according to the taste of each one could be seen in the houses and everyone enjoyed the exquisite flavors of nature, without being frowned upon for it.
