A tragic tale, well told
I received this in an e-mail from James Weatherford, who gave me permission to post it here:
The Original Chocolate Truffle
by James Weatherford
Wedged between the carrots and onions, the orchids, and the fresh-roasted Island coffee beans at Hilo Farmers Market, the sign on the small table read, “Chocolate Truffles.” Standing behind the table were a middle-aged woman and her man.
Bubbling with enthusiasm (and pride) for their chocolate truffles, she offered me a sample. He remained quiet, smiling and watching as I took the first bite; and he did not seem surprised when I rolled my eyes and howled with pleasure at the taste -- chocolate on the outside, chocolate on the inside, and terrifically delectable throughout. YUM!
A few nights before, for the second time, my family and I had watched the movie, “Chocolat”. I asked Mr. and Mrs. Truffle if they had seen it. Yes, they had. We all laughed. I paid for my chocolate truffle and said good bye.
For months after that I bought chocolate truffles from them at the Hilo Market and at the Makuu Market. Chocolate truffles became our family favorite for a treat during the weekly DVD movie.
The line of customers in front of the small table grew longer each week. New flavors, coconut and lilikoi, were mixed with the chocolate, and they seemed to be selling well. I stuck with the Original Chocolate. YUM!
When they weren’t too busy, I talked briefly with them, as I often do with entrepreneurs trying to break into the market with a new or not-so-new idea.
In August I could not find them at the markets. No chocolate truffles.
It didn’t seem likely to me that their business would have folded along with their table at the end of the last market day, as so many small, home-based family enterprises do. The chocolate truffles were a good product. The price provided a fair return to the entrepreneurs and value for money to customers. They knew how to market their product and were as naturally friendly as people come.
In late September I saw her walking in Makuu market, and asked where their table was so that I could go buy some chocolate truffles.
She explained they were not selling chocolate truffles that day, and had not sold chocolate truffles for some weeks. Not since she was attacked by dogs and mauled in the street near their home, one-half mile from the ocean in Hawaiian Paradise Park . She pointed to her legs, covered to above the knees by shorts. There were bite marks, gashes, and bruises. Certainly, there was more and worse the public could not see. The dogs had not been destroyed after attacking her, and had attacked another person a few days later.
Even as she recalled the incident, her eyes had the shattered look of someone who has suffered a violent, traumatic attack.
Stunned, I comforted her as best I could. That seemed inadequate. We went our separate ways in the bustling market. I wished her well and said I looked forward to more chocolate truffles. That was the last time I saw her.
The next time I saw him was in November, at Makuu Market. The chocolate truffles were on the table. My mouth was watering. I asked about her.
He looked down at the chocolate truffles, “She passed away October 16.” She had experienced complete liver failure and died. All I could do was offer condolences and another inadequate effort at comforting an innocent person suffering a senseless tragedy. He said he was going to keep making and selling chocolate truffles. I agreed that was the right thing to do, paid for my two Original Chocolate truffles, and said good bye. That was November 2004, and my last opportunity for one of those Original Chocolate Truffles. The Truffle table folded for the last time at the end of that market day.
Today, February 19, 2007 , the Hawaii County Code continues to be tolerant of dog attacks on humans and it remains silent regarding the victims of those attacks.
Hunter Bishop
in Politics, Commentary, Community
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Reader Comments (4)
I am a dog lover. I own four large breed dogs on my well-fenced HPP acre, and they are trained to bark, but not bite if strangers approach when the house is unattended. I have invested over $5000 in fencing improvements since I bought the property to make absolutely sure they stay in bounds. I am also well-insured, just in case someone provokes them into a bite. Having gone to that extent to make sure my dogs are not a menace, I have little tolerance for people who let theirs roam or, worse yet, train them to be vicious.
This is yet another example of needed change that will be resisted on grounds of tradition.
The dogs that attacked this woman were probably very neglected by their owners and when neglected dogs form dog packs they can become uncontrollable.
Kim Here.
When my daughter was 4 months pregnant with our 1st grandchild, a neighbors vivious dogs escaped through a "forgot to close it" gate. These 2 large dogs tried to attack her dogs right through a fence. Inside her fenced yard, she struggled to keep her now leashed dogs safely away from the fence. Yes dogs inside were leashed, dogs outside were loose and vicious.
When the police arrived, the owner (quite drunk) had finally got his dogs back to his yard. The attitude was "No harm, no foul". One cop even told us it wasn't worth taking a report if a kid wasn't hospitalized! Being angry at the attitude, I asked him to choose a kid, we'd wait for the dogs to get back out....Brian pulled me away and said "Not the way to handle this."
The dogs got out their back gate about 30 minutes later.
The biggest problem I saw with this event....How many times do police avoid taking reports on vivious dogs....and when a child (or adult) is attacked, claim 'there were no previous reports of these dogs being vicious".
We were also told that the Humane Society should handle this type of event....but are only available during working hours. So,I guess, nights and weekends are open for "Free for alls".
These Dogs did try to jump Me one dark night. But, the dog I had on a leash (hiding in the bushes because she liked to hide to do her business), actually knock the jumping dog in the chest and ran them off. That night she slept between us in bed, being held tightly. And has taken up most of our bed since then.
Like Wankine, and Josephine, I have very little tolerence for owners who do not care for their animals. We treat our dogs like family. They don't even treat their dogs like living beings.
Please Mr.Weatherford, you said this wouldn't become a habit! Now we're in agreement on vicious dog problems AND Chocolate Truffles!
By the way, all the cops involved in these incidents are no longer in this area. Neither are the dogs. After more incidents, after moving from this area, they were put down.
We have laws in place, but enforcement doesn't usually mean more than a small fine..."not worth the paperwork". This is where the change has to happen to make a difference! The Penalty has to be something that makes the owners painfully accountable.