Written and illustrated by Kurt
for Lila, 5/3/51 – 6/9/20
Long, long ago, or maybe it was just a moment ago, who’s to say, there were two young lovers. They were as in love as two young lovers can be. Their names were Demetrius and Daria. They liked to say they were made for each other, that they would never be apart, as long as there were olive trees on the hillsides.
They were wed on a gloriously sunny day under a particularly old and gnarled olive on the hillside behind their village. There was a cooling breeze from the sea far below. One could get lost in the pure blue vision of that water. One too could get lost in the blue of the sky on that day. But Demetrius and Daria only had eyes for each other.
The newly wedded couple were reluctant to be apart. But one morning Demetrius was called to help his father carry the boat he had repaired to the sea. Demetrius was happy to help his father but already missing Daria as he kissed her goodbye.
Daria watched Demetrius as he left. She decided then and there that she would make him his favorite supper: plump olives baked into a braided loaf of crusty warm bread. She hurried off with her basket to gather olives. They would have to be pitted and soaked in brine to remove the bitterness before she could knead them into the dough. She had no time to waste. She didn’t even stop to eat her breakfast of gathered eggs and a slice of yesterday’s bread.
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