FROM MILK TO CHEESE IN A BREEZE
By KARINA E. DREYER
The first rays of sunlight peeked through the
flowery curtains and gently woke me up. The smell of fried bacon and fresh
bread filled the air. Grandma was in the kitchen! I rushed to get dressed and wolfed=
down
my breakfast.
I bounced down the red brick steps through the
white-laced gate, letting it BANG behind me. As I skipped down the dirt roa=
d,
chocolate-swirled dust filled the air.&nbs=
p;
“ACHOO, ACHOO!” As I sneezed, two plump Grey Lourie̵=
7;s
squawked annoyed and flew up from a towering knob thorn tree. They circled above and settled on a
branch of a wild fig tree, joining their buddies in a chorus of joyful nois=
e.
Herds of cattle grazed leisurely in pat=
ches
of green pastures, making gentle bellowing sounds. A soft breeze tickled my
cheeks and my nose protested against the odor of cow manure and diesel fuel=
in
the air.
=
A family of African Hoopoe’s, wit=
h soft
black-and-white feathers and ginger crests, probed Aunt Lucy’s lawn w=
ith
their long pointy bills, searching for juicy worms. The factory noise incre=
ased
and they walked rapidly away, nodding their heads as they left. =
I sprinted the last couple of meters to=
the
factory. Muscled workers in dark blue overalls and black rubber boots unloa=
ded
the 20-gallon metal cans from the trucks.&=
nbsp;
The lids made boisterous cymbal sounds as the workers poured the fre=
sh
milk into big steel tanks.
I followed the narrow cement pathway to=
the
gray building. Inside it smel=
led of
rancid milk blended with sanitary cleaners. Everywhere workers shouted to be
heard over the machinery racket. Six enormous stainless steel tubs contained
milk in various stages of the cheese making process. I skidded over to Gran=
dpa
on the wet, slippery floor. H=
e added
an orange colorant to the milk with a gigantic measuring spoon. Grandpa smi=
led
at me and set a temperature timer. My nose twitched as the pungent milk was
heated and the solidifying process started.
=
We walked over to a tub where a huge
knife-comb cut through the solid milk mass. Grandpa explained that the milk was
broken down into pieces of solid curd and liquid whey. The curd chunks were
milled and placed into molds. He handed me a piece of curd. It felt rubbery=
and
smooth and had a light sour aroma.
Grandpa and I left the factory commotio=
n and
walked over to the cheese shop.
Round platters with cheese samples were set out on a spotless
countertop. The firm, ripened
Cheddar had an intensely strong aroma. I popped a tiny square into my mouth=
and
a mixture of distinctive sharp tangy flavors exploded on my tongue. Next, I
peeled off the protective rind of the smooth Gouda to reveal its pleasant sweet arom=
a. The
fresh mild cheese melted in my mouth like velvet butter.<=
/b>
Grandpa handed me a loaf of my favorite
Cheddar. I kissed him goodbye=
and
left the hustle and bustle of the factory behind. In the undisturbed peace =
of
the Savannah
Bushveld, the high-pitched humming of the cicadas filled the sizzling summer
air and followed me home.
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