Only Dying Roses
by Linda Seaton
from Clark
I didn't get much sleep last night because of the roses. I had to unload all the ones at Lana's house but that had only taken about thirty seconds. The two dozen roses that I kept for Mom were what really caused the problems.
I've always had better hearing and vision and sense of smell than my parents. Over the last few months I've noticed that my vision is changing and I can see a lot farther. Farther? Further? I sometimes wish my brain would get better at thinking - especially early in the morning. For now, I have to live with the fact that my sense of smell is a lot better than before.
And the roses really stink. I had to move them from the kitchen last night after both my dad and mom started to complain about them. I put them out on the porch but then later I had to move them to the edge of the property. And I could still smell them. And they kind of smell like Jell-O and mayonnaise. I've never liked mayonnaise.
Lex is here and Mom told me something is wrong. Maybe he's here because of the roses? He kept about a hundred of them in his house and I wonder if he was driven out by the smell. I hope not because that would mean Lana...
I try to flatten my hair as I tear out of the room.
When I stumble into the kitchen the first thing I notice is that my dad is reading the business section of the paper. He never reads the business section.
"Lex is out on the porch," my mom explains.
I hear my father exhale as I shove open the screen door and rush out into one of those perfect spring mornings. The only problem is that I can still smell the roses.
Lex, all in black (no surprise, there), turns to face me. One thing that is surprising is the large bruise under his chin. I stare at the mark a beat too long because he offers up an explanation.
"I tripped and fell up the stairs. I hadn't even noticed I was hurt until your mother tried to pack me in ice."
"My mom should have been a doctor."
"Or a fish monger."
He smiles a little and his shoulders relax. I laugh politely because whatever he said must have been funny. I'll have to ask Chloe what a "monger" is...
"Clark, I have to ask a favor. I need to retrieve all those roses you took from the estate."
"Is there something wrong with them?" I know that in any other town that is not a question that I would need to ask.
Lex shakes his head. "Like something out of a Grimm's Brothers fairy tale my father had told me that I should never have the roses cut. I ignored him and now he wants the flowers back."
He grows really still, even for Lex, and seems to be debating telling me more. Instead he offers something about his father whom I know is the real issue.
"I'm sure if they were poisonous, Clark, my father would be more than happy to dole them out. Have you already given them to Lana?"
"Yes, but I can get them back. She might want to get rid of them by now anyway."
Lex gives me a questioning look.
"I kept a couple dozen of the flowers for Mom for today but last night we had to move them outside. Because of how bad they smelled."
"I'm sorry, Clark. I didn't know." His hand goes to the back of his neck and he offers up a weak smile. "I'm starting to think that the roses actually might be important. I should have known."
I think Lex would have to be one of those mind reading guys at the State Fair to understand his father. I don't say it out loud.
Lex edges down the front steps. "If you need any help, Clark..."
I cut him off. "No, I can do it. It's fine. I'll be at the house in about an hour."
I watch as Lex gets in his car and slams down on the accelerator. The back wheels throw up a cloud of dust before finally finding traction. The car tears off. Lex is always a much more careless driver when his father is around.
I walk back into the kitchen and both my mom and dad look up from their sections of the paper.
"So, what did Lex want this time?" Dad asks.
"I have to get all those roses back that he gave me yesterday."
"What?"
"It might be for the best Jonathan." My mom moves to get another cup of coffee. "Those two dozen roses almost fumigated us. How many did you give to Lana, Clark?"
"About six hundred and sixty."
Dad puts the paper aside. "You better get moving, son. If not for Lex's sake then to save us from a Nell Potter phone call."
I'm halfway out the door when I hear Dad call, "Be home soon. Don't forget we're taking your Mom out!"
"Okay!" I shout back.
I race out to the field to retrieve Mom's rejected roses. As long as I'm moving really fast the roses aren't too bad. I drop them in the back of the truck.
As I drive, I try to come up with either an apology for the horrible smelling roses or an apology for having to take them away if there's nothing wrong with them.
I turn the truck up the drive to Lana's house and I start to cough. The roses are, are... I can't even come up with a word for how bad they smell.
Lights are on in the house and I know I'm stuck loading the truck at normal speed.
This is going to be bad.
tbc....
by Linda Seaton
from Clark
I didn't get much sleep last night because of the roses. I had to unload all the ones at Lana's house but that had only taken about thirty seconds. The two dozen roses that I kept for Mom were what really caused the problems.
I've always had better hearing and vision and sense of smell than my parents. Over the last few months I've noticed that my vision is changing and I can see a lot farther. Farther? Further? I sometimes wish my brain would get better at thinking - especially early in the morning. For now, I have to live with the fact that my sense of smell is a lot better than before.
And the roses really stink. I had to move them from the kitchen last night after both my dad and mom started to complain about them. I put them out on the porch but then later I had to move them to the edge of the property. And I could still smell them. And they kind of smell like Jell-O and mayonnaise. I've never liked mayonnaise.
Lex is here and Mom told me something is wrong. Maybe he's here because of the roses? He kept about a hundred of them in his house and I wonder if he was driven out by the smell. I hope not because that would mean Lana...
I try to flatten my hair as I tear out of the room.
When I stumble into the kitchen the first thing I notice is that my dad is reading the business section of the paper. He never reads the business section.
"Lex is out on the porch," my mom explains.
I hear my father exhale as I shove open the screen door and rush out into one of those perfect spring mornings. The only problem is that I can still smell the roses.
Lex, all in black (no surprise, there), turns to face me. One thing that is surprising is the large bruise under his chin. I stare at the mark a beat too long because he offers up an explanation.
"I tripped and fell up the stairs. I hadn't even noticed I was hurt until your mother tried to pack me in ice."
"My mom should have been a doctor."
"Or a fish monger."
He smiles a little and his shoulders relax. I laugh politely because whatever he said must have been funny. I'll have to ask Chloe what a "monger" is...
"Clark, I have to ask a favor. I need to retrieve all those roses you took from the estate."
"Is there something wrong with them?" I know that in any other town that is not a question that I would need to ask.
Lex shakes his head. "Like something out of a Grimm's Brothers fairy tale my father had told me that I should never have the roses cut. I ignored him and now he wants the flowers back."
He grows really still, even for Lex, and seems to be debating telling me more. Instead he offers something about his father whom I know is the real issue.
"I'm sure if they were poisonous, Clark, my father would be more than happy to dole them out. Have you already given them to Lana?"
"Yes, but I can get them back. She might want to get rid of them by now anyway."
Lex gives me a questioning look.
"I kept a couple dozen of the flowers for Mom for today but last night we had to move them outside. Because of how bad they smelled."
"I'm sorry, Clark. I didn't know." His hand goes to the back of his neck and he offers up a weak smile. "I'm starting to think that the roses actually might be important. I should have known."
I think Lex would have to be one of those mind reading guys at the State Fair to understand his father. I don't say it out loud.
Lex edges down the front steps. "If you need any help, Clark..."
I cut him off. "No, I can do it. It's fine. I'll be at the house in about an hour."
I watch as Lex gets in his car and slams down on the accelerator. The back wheels throw up a cloud of dust before finally finding traction. The car tears off. Lex is always a much more careless driver when his father is around.
I walk back into the kitchen and both my mom and dad look up from their sections of the paper.
"So, what did Lex want this time?" Dad asks.
"I have to get all those roses back that he gave me yesterday."
"What?"
"It might be for the best Jonathan." My mom moves to get another cup of coffee. "Those two dozen roses almost fumigated us. How many did you give to Lana, Clark?"
"About six hundred and sixty."
Dad puts the paper aside. "You better get moving, son. If not for Lex's sake then to save us from a Nell Potter phone call."
I'm halfway out the door when I hear Dad call, "Be home soon. Don't forget we're taking your Mom out!"
"Okay!" I shout back.
I race out to the field to retrieve Mom's rejected roses. As long as I'm moving really fast the roses aren't too bad. I drop them in the back of the truck.
As I drive, I try to come up with either an apology for the horrible smelling roses or an apology for having to take them away if there's nothing wrong with them.
I turn the truck up the drive to Lana's house and I start to cough. The roses are, are... I can't even come up with a word for how bad they smell.
Lights are on in the house and I know I'm stuck loading the truck at normal speed.
This is going to be bad.
tbc....