Some of our people complained that Joe’s decision went against the customs and traditions of our tribe, but others reminded them that Joe was a good leader, and that we had prospered under his leadership. So Edgar remained in the caves through the winter and the next summer he died. #whatsinmyshorts

Now it is true that we had other arrowhead makers in our tribe, but it is also true that none of these were anywhere close to being as good at making arrowheads as Edgar.
Some of the people in our tribe complained that Joe’s decision went against the customs and traditions of our tribe. #newadult

But when the time came, Joe overruled the council, telling us that we needed to keep Edgar alive that winter, because Edgar was an expert arrowhead maker, and our tribe could not afford to send him to the snow before he taught the younger people how to make those arrowheads. #whatsinmyshorts

Joe, had been elected leader in the summer, and this was the first time that he had to send one of the old folks out into the snow. The man likely to be chosen was Edgar, because he was the only weak old person in our tribe that winter, and besides, he was blind and couldn’t take care of himself.

One of our customs was to wait until the snow was deep and the cold was bitter, and then decide which of the weakest of our old people to put out in the snow, so that we wouldn’t have to feed them during the winter when we got very low on food. #whatsinmyshorts #oldhenrietta #newadult #fantasy

Old Henrietta
This is the story of Old Henrietta. This story takes place when my tribe lived north of the Black Sea. At that time, our leader was a man named, Joe, and we lived in some caves alongside a river. We had many customs that we followed every year. #whatsinmyshorts #oldhenrietta #newadult

At the time, it was a strange thing to say, for it was not our way to think of their feelings. It simple thing for a man to say, but it was something we had never considered. It was a true saying, and it changed us.
I'm glad I cast my lot for Joe.
#whatsinmyshorts #whyjoehadonlyonewife #newadult

The shamans claim now that taking only one wife was their idea, and that the spirits ordained it. But I remember that night, and I remember what Joe said.
"It would hurt Lani’s feelings." #whatsinmyshorts

There was grumbling about this, and some, both men and women, complained that this was not our tradition, but Joe was unmoved. The people of the other tribes laughed at us when they heard this, but soon many of those tribes adopted this custom also, and their women were happier. #whatsinmyshorts

When the votes were counted, we learned that Joe had won by one vote. Everyone was surprised by this. Brian took his defeat with good nature and congratulated Joe. Some days later, Joe proclaimed that from now on the men of our tribe would take only one woman to be his wife. #whatsinmyshorts

Evie probably slipped and fell. But sometimes I go up to the bluff, and I look down to where I found her, and I wonder. Had her grief over the loss of her one love become too great for her to bear? Did she take that fatal step on her own? I will never know the answer. #whatsinmyshorts #newadult

I searched for my sister in the village and in the fields, and I found her body at the bottom of a gorge.
Sometimes our people go up to the bluff that overlooks the gorge, so they can see the land beyond, and the edge of the gorge is slippery. #whatsinmyshorts #whyjoehadonlyonewife #newadult

Evie said that she accepted Adam’s decision, but when Erosia moved into their hut, the light dimmed in her eyes. Adam and Erosia took pleasure in each other’s company, and there was love, but we could see the growing pain in Evie’s heart. One day, she went missing. #whatsinmyshorts #newadult

Erosia was beautiful and she had pretty eyes, and a smile that suggested she knew things beyond her years. Many young men in the tribe wanted her for their wife, but she wanted Adam, and after a time he declared before the council that he would take her for his second wife. #whatsinmyshorts #fantasy

When they came of age, everyone in our tribe could see the love that Evie and Adam had for each other. So they united, and they were happy for a few years, and they had a child.
But after some years, another young girl came of age. #whatsinmyshorts #whyjoeonlyhadonewife #newadult #fantasy

When Joe gave his answer, I could not help glancing at Adam, and I saw that his eyes had turned for an instant to me. We quickly looked away. Adam and I and my sister, Evie, had grown up together, and we three always played together when we were children. We were the closest of friends. #newadult

Josh had two wives, and it was well known in the tribe that he played them against each other for his gratification. He would favor one over the other for a time, and then he would switch his attentions. This caused friction between the two women, and often caused problems for our tribe. #newadult

“He’s too cheap,” a man complained.
"Joe," Ramses asked. "Why do you not take another wife as is the custom in our tribe?"
“Because if I did, it would hurt Lani’s feelings,” Joe answered.
The men grew silent, and some avoided looking at Josh who squirmed uncomfortably. #whatsinmyshorts #newadult

Brian was the man who we expected to be our new leader, for he was a popular, likeable man. But someone else suggested Joe. Some of the others laughed when Joe’s name was mentioned. They liked to tease him, because he had only one wife, and he refused to take another. #whatsinmyshorts #newadult

One night the men of our small tribe were sitting around our fire preparing to select a new leader for our tribe. Josh, Adam, Ignacio, Ahmad, Ramses, Abasi, and Gao were there, and a few others whose names I don't remember. Brian was there. #whatsinmyshorts #whyjoeonlyhadonewife #newadult #fantasy

Tales From the Black Sea People

Author’s note: These stories are from my book Surviving the Fog-Kathy’s Recollections. I hope Aesop would have been proud of me.

Why Joe Had Only One Wife

Long ago we dwelt in the land to the north of the Black Sea. #whatsinmyshorts #whyjoehadonlyonewife #newadult

I've got other ideas for using zombies. What about painting them white and then using them as billboards? How about putting access points on them and use them as internet hot spots? Slow moving zombies better watch out. Dogs might use them to pee.
So, what's your idea for using zombies?
#newadult

All I have to do is figure out how to catch a bunch of zombies. I'm thinking I could offer a reward. At least there will be plenty of them. Of course, other folks will probably think of ways to use zombies, too, so sooner or later the price of zombies will probably increase. (People are so greedy.)

Zombies are attracted to sound. The more crying they hear, the faster they will plow. And with lots of orphans running around after their parents have been eaten, getting kids willing to be zombie bait in return for a hot meal (maybe) at the end of the day should be a snap. #whatsinmyshorts #fantasy

It's true that the kid might cry, having to walk in front of zombies, but remember, zombies are attracted to sound. They'll speed up. The more crying they hear, the faster they will plow. #whatsinmyshorts #usefulwaystousezombies #newadult

For example, I'll need to attach reins to the kid somehow, so I can get it to turn. That way, I can plow a whole field using the zombies. You can see how this would be a great way to grow food, and with no farm equipment running for lack of fuel, these zombie plows will be in high demand. #newadult

I'll just get a very long pole, attach it to the first yoke in the six pack of zombies, and tie a small kid to the end of the pole. That way, the zombies will follow the kid and pull the plow.
This idea will need refinement. #whatsinmyshorts #usefulwaystousezombies #postapocalypse #newadult #scifi

Now all I have to do is put them two by two in yokes. (That's this thing you use to get two mules, oxen, or zombies to pull plows.) Once they are all yoked together, all I have to do is to get them to move. I thought of how to solve that problem, too. #whatsinmyshorts #usefulwaystousezombies #scifi

I'll still have to make a living, so I guess it's back to selling stuff. And I have a brilliant idea for a product that will be in high demand after the collapse of civilization. Zombie plows. Here's how it works.
First, get six zombies. Next, cut off their arms, so they can't grab you. #newadult

I figure that with the government diverting revenues to obtain better weapons to destroy zombies, creating more efficient methods of assessing the environmental impacts of zombie herds, and studying ways pharmaceutical companies can lower zombie drug costs, I probably won't get my social security.