Blog #2- By Any Other Name
Bellis perennis
If there was one good thing about trudging through the woods on the Southside of town, it was the plants. Rose used to spend hours bent over the giant pages of "A Guide to the Wildflowers of South Carolina." She would memorize the names, find the flowers in her backyard, and press them into the book. However, she hadn't even thought about flowers since the move.
Gypsophila
There was a surprising amount still in bloom for this late in the year, which added to the overall strangeness of the night. But then again, everything looks strange under the light of the full moon. She heard the sound of crunching quercus leaves and was scared for half a second before she realized it was just the person she was meeting.
"Look, Jenkins, was this really necessary? Couldn't we just have meet at Big Tony's or the scoop, or something?"
"First of all, Little Teddy's is far superior," the old man quipped back, "But, I didn't want to meet in some big public place, where half the Foxberry is out getting their cheap, greasy slices."
Hyacinthoides non-scripta
"Okay, so then why did you insist on meeting me here?" said Rose, who was far more interested in the flowers than in her conversation, "I already had the police questioning me this week."
"Let's not mess around sweetie. I know you... worked with Evans. And I know you have information about it. The only thing I don't your is who you really are, Rose, if that's even your real name!"
Before Rose's lips could form a response to the accusation, they both saw flashlights beaming through the gaps in the trees. The odd pair took off running in opposite directions.
If there was one good thing about trudging through the woods on the Southside of town, it was the plants. Rose used to spend hours bent over the giant pages of "A Guide to the Wildflowers of South Carolina." She would memorize the names, find the flowers in her backyard, and press them into the book. However, she hadn't even thought about flowers since the move.
Gypsophila
There was a surprising amount still in bloom for this late in the year, which added to the overall strangeness of the night. But then again, everything looks strange under the light of the full moon. She heard the sound of crunching quercus leaves and was scared for half a second before she realized it was just the person she was meeting.
"Look, Jenkins, was this really necessary? Couldn't we just have meet at Big Tony's or the scoop, or something?"
"First of all, Little Teddy's is far superior," the old man quipped back, "But, I didn't want to meet in some big public place, where half the Foxberry is out getting their cheap, greasy slices."
Hyacinthoides non-scripta
"Okay, so then why did you insist on meeting me here?" said Rose, who was far more interested in the flowers than in her conversation, "I already had the police questioning me this week."
"Let's not mess around sweetie. I know you... worked with Evans. And I know you have information about it. The only thing I don't your is who you really are, Rose, if that's even your real name!"
Before Rose's lips could form a response to the accusation, they both saw flashlights beaming through the gaps in the trees. The odd pair took off running in opposite directions.
He appeared on the doorstep of apartment 306. He tried to straightened his hair, but his work clothes made him look a bit bedraggled. But when she opened the door, his smile made him seem familiar to Rose.
ReplyDeleteShe opened the door, slightly tilted her head to the right, and paused for just a second before asking "Yes?"
"Hello, I am Jack, Jack Stars and I live on the roof and I am refurbishing it, and I need your help."
She paused once again thinking he had something else to say. But, in fact, she was glad in wasn't the police. "Yes?" She said again. "What kind of help?"
"I have several planting containers and I'm looking for special kinds of plants to fill them with."
"Special kinds?"
"Yes."
Again she paused. "What kind?"
"Ones that make people," he hesitated, trying to find the right word, "compelled."
"Compelled to do what?"
With a perplexed look on his face, he said, "Would you mind visiting the rooftop. Perhaps you will know what I mean."
All along the sides of the pool Jack placed several mason jars with candles in them. The sun was setting and their lights flickered and reflected in the water. Rose could see the slight mist rising from the pool. Music was playing from somewhere.
"Wow," she said and looked at this strange, thin young man standing next to her. "I think I can figure out something."