Green Beans and Yellow Bikinis

It was tough getting up at 5:30 in the morning

for this 7 year old girl

and it would be a long time until lunch,

so we had a big breakfast of oatmeal,

orange juice and bacon. Then we’d

pack P B & Js and head out the door.

I usually dozed on the 25 minute drive

up 82nd Ave. to the bean and berry fields.

By 7am we were registered, three-foot

burlap bags in hands, rows and sections

assigned, Area Bosses introduced.

Layered up for the cool mornings, my

fingers were the only cold parts of my

body, grabbing long, skinny green beans,

three or four at a time, and swiftly

dropping them into my bag.

I quickly learned to ignore the little black

bugs crawling on them, but the prickly

fuzz on the beans made my hands itch,

so Mommy lathered my hands with

sweet smelling Corn Husker’s Lotion.

But all of these trifling discomforts were

soon forgotten when in the next row a

transistor radio started blaring the

latest rock and roll song on KISN,

and dozens of voices joined in.

Layer by layer, coats, sweaters and long

sleeved shirts were peeled off as the day

gradually heated. And song after song, I

keenly listened for that ONE tune to play.

It brought everyone in the fields to life!

When we heard “She was afraid to come

out of the locker” all picking stopped.

Well, for me it did! I danced gaily

up and down the rows, loudly joining in

with the largest, liveliest chorus in town.

And that’s why, since the age of seven,

every time I hear “Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny

Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” You better

watch out! I’m right back in that field, likely

to start jumping around and serenading you!

Naida Lavon

Feb. 2021

Judi Leff's Memoir class San Mateo CC