A friend told Mary a pretty flower had grown in the park.
Mary wanted to see it, and so went out for a walk. The park
was full of pretty flowers, but the prettiest one she could
easily spot.
"My, you are small, but pretty."
"Thank you, dearly!"
"I will feed you and care of you and you will be strong!"
"Thank you, Mary!"

Every day, Mary fed the flower. A fortnight later, the
flower grew extremely thick, but its color hadn't sagged.
"I don't care if you're fat, I will always take good care of
you and you will never be sad."

The following day, some boys had begun to play ball in the
park, and crushed a few flowers.
"I must protect you! I must take you away!"
"This is my home, here I will stay."

Every day, more and more flowers died.
"Let me protect you, take you away."
"I will die if I won't stay."
"Then let me cover you with a glass box."
"Imprison me? Take away my fresh air and freedom? Not allow
me to enjoy the sun and moon, but merely to see them? No, I
stay."

A week later, all the flowers but Mary's were gone.
"This is enough, I don't want to risk you."
"Please let me stay, I am big enough to survive."
"I will take you, don't be mad."
"I'm not mad, I'm only sad..."

So Mary plucked the flower and put it by her bed. When she
awoke the following morning, Mary found her flower dead.


(c) Shery, summer 2001
Belgium