We are the Hollowers,
The hollow people.
This does not mean that we are thoughtless or selfish or self centred, In fact we are the opposite.
Hollow people don’t just help other hollow people they also help Hill people and Shore people.
Being a hollow Person just means that during a certain time in the summer we have a tendency to spend time in hollows.
Now choosing a hollow is a serious matter and planning is much advised.
Afterall you don’t want to arrive and find your hollow already occupied.
That would lead to bad summer feelings.
Though I will say these feelings only last a short while as the summer hollow place is one of such wonder and healing that its hard to stay mad with someone for long.
I should also mention here that there are two hollow summer seasons.
One in june and one in august.
The june hollow time is good if you are seeking solitude for writing and painting,
The august is busier and better for families with young children.
For hollow children love the company of other children.
And then there are those who have the luxury of being able to get down for both sessions.
Over the long winter months during the many large family get togethers the talk goes something like this.
‘What Hollow time will you be down for this summer’ ?
If the answer is august the next query is:
‘And which Hollow would you like this year?.
‘I don’t really mind, I’m happy with which ever one is free’ The less assertive of us will reply,
Usually those with small children will, if their children can swim, request to be in a hollow nearest to the beach where they can keep an eye on them.
Or if they can’t swim, then a hollow a bit further off might suit better so the little ones won’t be constantly running into the water and having to be hauled out half drowned.
Though the belief is, that left to their own devices they will quickly learn to swim as a matter of self preservation.
After all this is how we learnt when we were young hollowers.
My eldest sister Hestia always requests the hollow near the spring well.
She has, over the years, become the main tea and coffee maker (taking over the role from my mother who is now too old and not flexible enough to come hollowing) and needs a brisk supply of cool clean water, both to make the tea and coffee with and for washing up after.
The spring well is a secret well known initially only to us but we have shared our knowledge with the hill people, for sharing is much encouraged in this place of many hollow’s.
And some hills
My middle sister, Athena likes the deep hollow as her tent is rather high and is more at risk of getting flattened in a north atlantic squall and needs all the protection it can get.
And I, Psamathe? well I have the luxury of a small camper, turquoise to match the sea and painted with pink cherry blossoms, as though I had driven through an orchard of them.
In reality I don’t need a hollow as my van can withstand the fiercest of storms and I will admit enjoying lying inside it at night and being lulled to sleep by the buffeting and battering of the wind.
But I still love the coziness of a hollow and usually choose the large one looking out to the second beach and over to the islands.
This is not a selfish choice of hollow as no tent could withstand the wind that comes funnelling up it when it veers to the northwest.
There are more of us.
My brothers, Poseidon, Hydros. Palaemon and their wives and children and my other sisters Aura, Artemis. Persephone and their husbands and children.
And then there are the hill people, a newer folk who have blended in well with us and join our feasting on mackerel and mussels
They are happier on a hill with a view.
Usually male and single with smaller tents and no fear of the winds, they canoe and sail a lot and sit and watch the sea from a height.
(Personally I think they are afraid of capture and want to be able to make a quick getaway if needs be. Persephone has quite a flirtatious way about her but she can also be quite scarey)
‘But what do hollow people DO all day’? I hear you ask
Well basically we just spend time doing what hollowers do best. i.e We visit each other and sit, chat, drink tea or coffee.
If the day is nice we walk, fish, pick mussels, swim. visit the hill people.
If it’s raining we huddle in our hollows and read and write and snooze.
Next week: A hollower learns a lesson.
Hollow people feasting, The yellow bike on a hill in search of a hollow.
