December's Eve

She even had a beautiful garden which had a huge Oak tree which sat in the midst of it. Strangely enough, her garden plentifully produced year round and, although it sat next to a lake, it was still considered weird. The town people had become accustomed to this weird attraction which had become the best kept secret in this small, rural town. It was a great privilege being able to enjoy fresh vegetables and fresh fruit year round. She had taught the town folk different herbal remedies for treating various ailments throughout time. This was very helpful in the community since the town doctor was known for doing great patchwork and wielding a pint of vodka in his pocket when he saw patients. Although, they never did it in her face, people often jokingly referred to her as a witch doctor. She owned her lakefront property that her home sat on and during the warmer months, she would sit at the edge of the wooded lot, near Double Lakes Highway, and sell her fruit and vegetables to the locals and passer-bys. She never allowed anyone to step one foot in her garden because she felt they would taint or even poison her delightful delicacies. Her garden was her life! Everyone who ever passed by her property was quite intrigued by her breathtaking garden and her peaceful lake which yielded plenty of fresh fish during the warmer months. She also had customers from other small towns in neighboring counties who patronized her. She was well- to-do because of her fancy income which was due to her ravishing garden. She had the greenest thumb in town. No one knew where she came from; however, they knew she had always been there. She had lived in this small town longer than any other person there and she lived along the lake. Upon arriving there, she knew this small waterway was imperative for her garden to thrive. When asked of her past, she simply replied, “I am a widow…my husband died years ago.”