When Doves Cry
Whisper of Quietus
Chapter Two; Where Have All The Flowers Gone?
When I was really little, I'd always wonder where the flowers went when the cold weather came around, and summer left, blending into fall and winter. I wondered if they slept, like bears did, when winter came, or if they just left, maybe migrated, like geese. I didn't know, and the thought always baffled me, confusing me to the point where I didn't want to think about it anymore. Then Daddy explained to me that the flower's plants did indeed sleep in the winter, since they couldn't grow, and let their flowers dry out. This made me sad, but I perked up when he told me it made spring even more beautiful, knowing that the plant was taking another course through the year, sprouting, growing, and blooming. He told me we were like plants, too, but we only completed one cycle of sprouting, growing, and blooming before we grew old, incapable of growing anymore, we'd fall off, only to make way for new flowers...
Later that day, Big Brother and Little big Brother took me out to look at the flowers -- not the natural flowers, but the Florist's flowers. I gasped when I saw them; they were just so beautiful. The colors of the flowers sprang out, and made me even happier, not being able to contain my giggles of joy or enthusiasm. Bright reds burst out from yellow flowers, softened by the light touch of orange, making the bouquet as beautiful as a new sunrise. Another held colors of puple, and a soft fuzzy leaf that looked a little grey, Big Brother explained to me that it was Lamb's Ear and Lilac. The others were of tulips, and poppies, which were just as beautiful, and soft. Another section was dedicated to roses, and only roses. I was surprised at this, too, because I only thought there were yellow, pink and red roses. But here, there were yellow roses, white roses, pink and white roses, and even tiny little roses that grew off of tiny little bushes, as if they'd been turned minute, yet still held every tiny, beautiful detail that made it just as elegant as a larger bush.
There were odd flowers, too. Like one, it was orange and a brownish color, which Little big Brother said they were dragonsnaps...Or something, which I thought fit, because they looked like a large lizard's mouth. I even found plants that weren't flowers, like ferns, and different assortments of fuzzy moss. Then there were things called 'bonzai' gardens, which I liked as well as the miniature roses, because they were little gardens, with a small type of tree, and normally a small bench, or something, surrounded by tiny pebbles, and to finish, a brilliantly colored pot, or ceramic box. I loved the bonzai gardens, because there were so many of them! And the work and craftmanship of them took me off-guard, making me gasp whenever I wandered to that side of the store.
Though Little big Brother guided me to the front desk, where they had freezers of flowers. I didn't understand why they had freezers, I only thought they kept food in them, but Big Brother told me that the cold air across the flowers kept them bright, and encouraged growth. "But Daddy told me that when it gets cold, the flowers go away, thats why they come back in spring; it's warmer." I protested, though Big Brother reminded me that moisture also helped. I nodded, understanding, and raced off to a boquet of ferns, daisies, and poppies. All the colors, the light green, the ivory of the daisies, and the pale gold of the poppies gave a home-style feeling to the boquet, which was wrapped in a pale yellow wrapping. Just the kind of boquet you'd want sitting in an office, or a room filled with art, or something sweet and country-like, like that.
But, all good things must end, and Big Brother announced we had to leave. I sighed, waving goodbye to the nice Florist lady, and following Big Brother and Little big Brother. The streets were busy, people were crowding around for spring decor, and people were buying gifts, celebrating the arrival of spring. I didn't know why they celebrated spring, maybe they were just thankful winter was over. I heard winter was bad for farmers, but not many farmers lived in Central, they were in Resembul, or somewhere, but I was almost certain they weren't here. I guessed that didn't matter much, though, and continued following the two ahead of me. My mind wandered, going back to flowers, and the cycle they went through.
"Big Brother, Daddy says life is like the cycle flowers go through, in the year. He says that spring is the beginning of life, where one is young, and winter is where one grows old, and eventually die...But what about people who don't die old? What about the people who die of illnesses, or are killed, or something? What happens to them?" I asked, pondering myself.
"Nina...I suppose life is like a cycle of flowers...But remember, some people kill the flowers. Sometimes they step on them, or pick them...Then their life decreases more quickly. If you pick a flower, and put it in water, is it not true that the flower will wilt within a few days?" He told me, I listened, nodding quietly. He was right; and I had never thought of it like that. "People who die younger are like a picked flower, once something happens, they wilt more quickly, and their time is shorter. But everything happens for a reason. People pick flowers to make their lives more beautiful, and even from grief, something beautiful can come from it."
I scowled, not understanding how anybody could gain something beautiful by loss. "But...How?" I asked, bewilderment and confusion getting the best of me. Big Brother just smiled. "Don't think of it as loss, Nina. Think of it as a blessing, to have gotten time to spend with that person. To have gotten to know them, be with them, and love them." I smiled, for I had never thought of it that way. "Thank you, Big Brother." I exclaimed gleefully, the three of us arriving at the front gate to my house, only to be greeted by Alexander, who pounced Big Brother, giving him licks to the face, as he yelled for Alexander to get off. Though my white dog didn't and I just giggled at it, Little big Brother exclaiming how Big Brother should calm down.
Though Alexander finally drew back, rushing to the porch of our house, where Daddy was standing, calling to him. Big Brother and Little big Brother looked over, when Daddy thanked them for taking me out, and explained that they should get to their studies before the day became too old. They agreed, heading inside, and Daddy suggested I stayed outside, and play in the snow, since it would be gone very quickly. I nodded, calling Alexander out with me. It was nice to have Alexander with me, he made me happy. I climbed up on his back, gently nudging the strong dog forward like a horse, where he ran off, jumping into a pile of snow, seemingly enjoying my giggles of joy.
Before I knew it, the sun was setting, and Alexander and I seemed to have no more energy to play. It was then Big Brother came out to tell us that dinner was ready. Alexander willingly let me onto his back again, and I rode inside on my fluffy dog's back, since my legs ached from jumping and playing in the snow. I thanked him with a pat to the head as I got off, walking carefully to the dinner table, and taking a seat beside Big Brother. Daddy asked us how our day was, which I quickly replied to eagerly, explaining to Daddy the beautiful colors of all the flowers, and all the beauty of the Florist's shop. He smiled at me, and nodded, asking how Big Brother's study of Alkemy-stuff had gone. Big Brother and Daddy soon got into a well-detailed conversation about the stuff, and Little big Brother started talking to me about how when the flowers bloomed, the wild ones, they'd come back and take me to go pick flowers. I was delighted by this, and quickly nodded with joy, explaining how I'd love to go flower-picking with Big Brother and Little big Brother.
"Daddy?" I asked suddenly, having another question about the flower-life cycle, "Where do all the flowers go, though? After they die?" He looked at me funny, the light shining against his glasses, so I couldn't see his eyes. "Nina, the flowers...The flowers die, they disappear. As if they'd never been there...Except for decaying remains...Unless somebody has actually seen the flower, or acknowledged it. Then the flower will live in their memory until they decide to forget about it, or the memory fades with time." I pondered this, thinking up more questions. "And if nobody does acknowledge the flower?" He thought, and things were silent. "If nobody knew of the flower, Nina, it would be as if it had never seen the face of this world."
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Envy:Okay, so Whisper of Quietus is not here at the moment, Raven's busy trying to catch Pryo-Boy Mustang and his lawn mower rant...Or whatever. Anyways, he's out front, threatening to snap. Cold + Sudden heat Broken windows. Broken windows no selling of house. Got it? Okay. Well, Raven says you better review, or else...Bam. You may not have any windows soon. And if you flame...You won't have windows either, got it? Chilly California weather, pfft.
Boodah: Woof.
Envy:...I'm going to go catch me a dog.