Petit Cheri – Compare and Contrast
by: Bakunawa
I admit it: I really like flowers. It's an acquired interest, I guess, since my mom just loves them so much.
We always had a fresh bunch every day at home. And now Mom's planning on opening a business with the object of her obsession.
I can't wait actually!
--
"Ino," she spoke tentatively, "if you're a cosmos flower… then, am I just a thoroughwort?"
I was surprised she asked me, I was taken off guard. But it was still so like Sakura to ask a question like that too.
"Now why would you say that?" I said anyways. "Well, let's see…"
How could one answer this? How could I perk up her esteem?
She was looking at me so expectantly. What would I say?
"Actually, I don't think you're a flower at all, Sakura. You're still a bud waiting to bloom."
"…Ehe… Yeah, you're right."
But I had that nagging feeling again that it was not the right words to say to her.
--
I had just told her the cosmos flowers were the prettiest flowers in the fall and i also implied, in a way, that using them as the showpiece for a flower arrangement would be best. I also told her as the showpiece, they needed complementary flowers: the tiny thoroughwort.
Why did she see herself that way, in that tiny fuzzy white thoroughwort? Hadn't I just mentioned the cosmos were also called 'autumn cherry blossoms'? Cherry blossoms! Like her namesake?
"Say, uh, Ino?"
"Sorry, what?"
"Why did… you give me this ribbon? What's it supposed to mean?"
Oh yes, I almost forgotten—she was still wearing that red hair sash. It had been my favorite.
"Well, actually… let's just say that I thought it would be a real big waste for you to wilt away as nothing but a bud."
But what I really wanted to say was: Sakura, you're bigger, better, brighter than what you actually think you are.
"I mean," I continued, "how sad is it if flowers don't ever bloom?"
I wish she could see what I see in her.
I wish she would realize that what others say about her did not matter.
I wish she would listen to me and open her eyes.
"For all we know… that little bud… " Yes, please, listen to me Sakura. "it might become a flower even more beautiful than a cosmos."
And she really looked prettier with red too.
--
My mom had always kept this very big, very old book behind a glass cabinet at home. It had been so old and tattered, I could barely read the inscriptions and Mom would never allow me to touch it unless she was within sight.
This book held the descriptions and implications of every flower in the world and I understood why it was so dear to her.
If I were to give Sakura a flower, I might give her:
An Aster for her daintiness or maybe a Nigell for both her delicacy in appearance and perplexity of character--because she could sometimes be very shy and frail but there are few instances that she would act otherwise.
A Cockscomb or Celosia for her silliness.
A Chrysanthemum to say " You are a wonderful friend, Sakura!" with White Camilla to show my affection for her.
A Thyme to give her courage that she truly needs. Or maybe a Cactus for bravery and endurance, but she would probably won't like that very much.
A White Heather for protection from danger and Marjoram to comfort her in rainy days.
And maybe Irises because her friendship means so much to me.