Michael Valdez

Due South

Day 6811 The Southedge shifted South 3.4 meters. The Northedge shifted South 3.4 meters. I wake up at the Southedge and hack at the frozen ground until it lets loose. My daughter packs the bedrolls. Rollers bring buckets down from the Northedge with hot earth and growth and I pray as they mix under my fingers. I plant my ten seeds, ten sprouts, ten saplings, and ten fruitlings neatly in the thawing ground. I look around to see my sisters doing the same.