The Day Phoenix's Plant Went Tea Cup Over Saucer
Nothing was out of ordinary for Phoenix when his life was about as uproot has his beloved Charley; the potted lovely that sat in the corner next to the window that was the only source of natural light for the Wright Anything Talent Agency. Even if Charley didn't seem to be as tall this morning.
He walked over to it, kneeling. He had been preparing to grab the nearby watering can to give Charley a nice refreshing drink of water when he saw that Charley lay on the floor. It was something he had no control over. It was a sign.
'It's true... I have been avoiding it for too long. I've denied it, hoping it would go away. But now it's back staring me in the face. I have no choice but to acknowledge the truth that I now see.' Phoenix thought remotely as he cradled the plant in one hand.
The leaves were limp. It was as though Charley had been like this all weekend. The wilted stalk was a sickly yellow, showing the earliest signs of browning. It had been ignored during the previous week while they office had been busy with a case, then the weekend came and no one is ever in the office then.
He sighed long, his tone sullen. 'It was a good run. I kept running even though the escalator was going up and I was running against it. I have avoided this day for too long. I thought I could do it. I thought I could make it happen but instead I was only fighting inevitability.'
He dusted the soil aside and picked up the pot, pouring water into it, emptying the water pitcher. It wasn't a big put, but he would need more water and a pair of scissors. The scissors were easy to get, they were in a pile of the school supplies Trucy left by the door. He retrieved those first.
Returning to Charley, Phoenix snipped off the healthiest branch, smiling to himself. He then turned to the pot he had poured the water into and placed the leaf. This plant wouldn't die easily. He could restore it by reconnecting with the roots.
Taking the pitcher, he walked to the office's bathroom and filled the pitcher at the sink and returned to the branch now sticking out of the pot that had water in it.
He watched as the pot filled with water.
He gingerly touched the branch he had saved, and melancholically glanced at the rest of Charley that lay helplessly wasting away without soil, water or sun, as the day clouded over.
'I know what I need to. To save this plant, I need to cut off the dead leaves and rediscover my roots.' Phoenix stood up, walking to his desk and picking up the phone, and dialling...