Malcolm, the crab catcher

MALCOLM, THE CRAB CATCHER

There are not many events in a person's life that could be considered life changing, but whereas one minute in a person's life does not define him or her, that one minute can most definitely change your life. I challenge you to sit back, and relax, as I tell you the story of a man who was a professional crab catcher. The man's name was Malcolm. He hunted and caught land crabs for a simple, unassuming living, and made a pretty good living by all standards. From this simple, unassuming livelihood, Malcolm developed a cottage industry around the crab walking season. From the seasonal proceeds of his crab catching industry, he built a family home, sent five children to private schools, established a generous college fund for each child, provided whatever his wife asked for, and himself drove a vehicle that was the envy of everyone in the settlement. He and his family were living a good life, thanks to the crabs that were in over abundance during the time of their life cycle when they walked, seemingly by the millions from late May (mating season) to late June to early August (spawning period - when the females walk to ponds, or the sea to wash [deliver] their eggs). Females are not caught during this period. The walking crab season extended into the first or second week in November.

Most residents of the quaint settlement where Malcolm and his family lived were crab catchers. However, very few people took crab catching as seriously as Malcolm did. Whereas the average family had crab pens (cages in which they kept the live crabs for the purpose of feeding them to purge their systems in preparation for market), Malcolm constructed crab hotels, as the residents humorously referred to them. The crab hotels were multilevel pens, much larger than average. Malcolm had dedicated a fifty by one hundred size plot of land to accommodate his crab hotels. This had taken on a life of its own, and was attracting visitors to the settlement. 

After about two to three weeks of a fruits and vegetable diet, Malcolm's crabs were ready for market. He loaded crate upon crate of live crabs onto the ferry that transported goods to market. The voyage was one full day, which Malcolm used to relax, and prepare himself for the week ahead that was sure to be full of hustle and bustle that market offered. There would be no time to enjoy any of the amenities of the market town, which Malcolm gave little thought to anyway, since his family was not with him. At the end of the day, there was one thing that Malcolm could surely look forward to; being exhausted. Malcolm always treated himself to a hot, Epsom Salt bath. More than once, he was jarred from the clutches of sleep by the good night call from his beloved wife, who was always anxious to learn how the day went. Their talks were brief, as Malcolm's market days began very early.

How Malcolm managed every year to catch so many crabs was a marvel to everyone. Whereas ordinary people could hold one, maybe two crabs in hand at a time, Malcolm would dive into a thicket, and emerge with up to six crabs with no fear of being pinched by their large intimidating biters. Every night Malcolm went out crabbing, he was sure to return with ten to twelve dozens, compared to the average person's two to three dozens, for which they were thrilled. 

One night, between trips to market, Malcolm went into the woods crabbing. This was before flashlights were popular. Back then, crabbers used the part of the coconut tree call ‘the coconut sword’ as a light source.

 When they went crabbing, we took a bundle of coconut swords, bags to put the live crabs in, matches, a small bottle of kerosene oil, drinking water, and maybe a sandwich or two. Sometimes their crabbing trips lasted all night. Once a sword was lit, it burned slowly, but it gave off as much light as a torch.

On this particular night, Malcolm encountered a woman and her son crabbing. Of course he knew her, and that she had recently become a widow. He noticed that they each had two bags, but from the appearance, between them both, they had caught maybe one dozen crabs. He also noticed that their supply of coconut swords was running low, which told Malcolm that they had been out for quite a while. Their water was also running out. Malcolm greeted the woman and her son, and inquired into their progress. He was saddened to learn that they had been out most of the night, and that their goal of catching enough crabs to feed themselves, and hopefully sell a few to enable the woman to buy some groceries was falling far short. Malcolm was extremely moved by their situation, and without a thought, he turned over to them the ten bags he has already caught. He also extended the invitation to take as many of those bags to market for them. The woman, whose name was Lucele, knew of Malcolm's impressive crab catching reputation, was overwhelmed with gratitude. Tears of joy streamed down her face, as she hugged her son, and thanked Malcolm over and over.

At that moment, they noticed that day was breaking, so Malcolm offered them a ride home with their abundant catch on the back of his truck.

After dropping Lucele and her son home, Malcolm went in search of his wife to share the events of his night, and what he did for their neighbor. They were both grateful for the opportunity, and counted it a blessing to have been able to be a blessing, and make a positive difference in the life of a family in need. Crabbing was their life. Malcolm had made such an overnight trip hundreds of times, but this turn of events was definitely not the norm, and had taken on a new meaning for Malcolm and his family. They had been abundantly blessed, and it was great to be able to share their blessing.