Pockets

 

            Katie had things to do, and no time to waste. The wild raspberries were ripe, and she wanted to get some before they got eaten by the forest animals. The raspberry patch was more than a mile from her home, but the hike was worth it to get the biggest, juiciest berries that grew around here.

            Katie’s husband, Sam, was out working in the fields today, so that meant that Katie would be bringing little Thomas with her. Thomas was nearly four months old now, but he was still small enough that Katie didn’t mind his weight in the special pack that she carried on her back.

            After gathering all the things that she would need, she put everything in her spacious apron pockets. These pockets were magically expanded inside. It was still a time when magic was common and pervasive. Everyone felt its effects. In 1,000 years, this wouldn’t be the case, but for now, magic was still part of life.

            Katie walked out the door with little Thomas on her back, and Benji, the family dog, trailing behind her. She set off on a well-worn track that led into the woods. With her goal set, she moved quickly and covered a lot of ground. She stepped a little too close to a lonely fairy’s house. The fairy in residence came out and shook her fist at Katie.

            “Sorry about that!” Katie cried cheerfully, as she continued on. She startled a pair of beavers as she stomped by their lodge. The beavers shot out and into the river. More than one deer bounded away from her as she hurried on her way.

            When Katie reached the raspberry patch, she smiled. There were still plenty of plump, juicy raspberries for her to pick and take home. “I think we’ll have enough to make jam,” she said happily. Benji barked to show that he was listening, and Thomas cooed as Katie gently removed the pack from her back.

            Sticking her hand into her apron pocket, she drew out a small quilt and laid it out on the ground near her. Carefully getting Thomas out of the pack, she set him on the blanket. She turned to Benji and instructed, “Now you watch him, Benji. Make sure he doesn’t roll off anywhere.”

            Benji obediently sat down close to the blanket to watch his small charge.

            Satisfied, Katie removed a few bowls from her apron pocket, and started to pick the raspberries. Most of them were just right for picking, and Katie moved quickly among the bushes. A few went into her mouth. Just to test them, she told herself.

            It wasn’t long before one of her bowls was full. She set it down on the ground and grabbed another one. Soon there were three large bowls filled with raspberries lined up in a row. “That should be plenty,” Katie said, nodding. She drew out three small towels to cover the raspberry bowls and then put them all back in her pocket.

            Benji looked up at her as she came back over to the blanket where Thomas still lay, sleeping peacefully. Not wanting to disturb the baby just yet, she lay down with her head on the blanket and closed her eyes.

            Katie slept until Benji woke her with one of his loudest barks. Disoriented for a moment, she looked wildly around to see why he was so upset. Then she saw the small fox as it darted away from their small clearing.

            Thomas was awake and ready to eat. He also needed a new diaper rag. Once again, she reached into her apron pocket to get out the things she needed. After taking care of the baby, she packed everything back up and they all set off back the way they had come.

            Katie thought about how easy it was to carry everything that she needed along with her. If Sam had come instead of her to pick raspberries, he would have had to carry a lot more since men’s pants pockets couldn’t be magically modified. She thought how silly that was. Women’s pockets looked small, but they held so much, thanks to a woman’s magic.

            Men, on the other hand, couldn’t perform any magic, so their pockets were sewn much larger, but held so much less.

            Katie laughed softly to herself as she walked home to make her raspberry jam.

            More than 1,000 years later, Katie’s 40^th great-granddaughter, Shelly, was left wondering why men’s pockets held so much more than women’s pants pockets. Women’s pockets were always sewn so small, that you could only fit half of a cell phone in it. Men’s pockets, however, were much roomier. They were able to fit their phone, keys, wallet, and whatever else they needed to carry.

            Magic had disappeared centuries ago, and Shelly had no idea why pants pockets are made the way that they are today. But you, reader, now know the answer to this great mystery.