Mysterious Seeds

Emilia Young lived alone in her little cottage. It wasn’t large or fancy, but it was hers. She had gotten it from her parents, who had died in an automobile accident when she was 10 years old. Upon turning 18, it was passed onto her. Emilia had lived with her aunt, who held the property in trust for her until she turned 18. Now, she was 21. She worked as a teaching assistant in a private school for privilege, gifted children.

One Saturday morning, Emilia woke, got up, and prepared for her day. Grabbing a hot cup of tea, she went down to the mailbox. Mail came early for her on Saturdays. She plopped the mail on the table and grabbed a croissant.

Sitting down at the table, Emilia took a generous bite of her croissant, and grabbed her pile of postage. What was this? A small package? She didn’t order anything. Could it be a mistake? Yet it was addressed to her. Curiosity got the better of her, and she tore open the package.

Inside was another, smaller package that contained some mysterious seeds. She had no idea what kind of seeds they were, but she did know how to find out! She got a pot and some soil that she had around, and decided to plant her mysterious seeds. She lovingly tucked them into their bed of soil, and talked to them, welcoming them to their new home. As she watered them, she told them of how she hoped they would like it there and would be happy. Then she went about her day.

Upon rising the next morning, she went to greet the day with her new members to her home. “Good morning, my master…” she began and then gasped. The seeds had grown overnight! Now the plant stood over 12 inches high! “That’s impossible!” she stated in awe. However, she still watered and talked to her plant friend with just as much love as before.

By the next morning, the plant was large enough to be transplanted into her yard, and it grew! Soon it was large enough to support her as she leaned against it while sitting underneath.

It was summer. So, there were no classes. She loved to sit under her tree and talk or sing to it. She loved to read stories out loud to it.

One day, as Emilia sat under her tree reading with a nice cold glass of iced tea, the tree bent a branch down to right in front of her as if to show her it’s recent bounty. It looked like a pear! Already? It was a pear, except it had a strange purplish, opalescent hue. And it appeared as if the tree was offering it directly to her! She thanked the tree as she plucked the fruit from the branch.

She could not resist, and took a bite of the pear. It was delicious! It tasted like a pear, but it was a bit more sweet… and a bit more tart… a bit more vibrant. She took another bite. Then another. She found herself getting somewhat lightheaded. There was a strange tickling sensation in her stomach. Was she floating?

When she awoke, the tree was gone. Her iced tea was gone. Here house was there, but it looked different somehow. “Emmy!” came a voice from the house. No! It couldn’t be! “I must be dreaming,” she thought. “Emmy,” came the call again. Her heart racing, she ran into the house.

There was her mother, in the kitchen, preparing dinner! “Emmy! Look at you! You’re a mess! Now, go get yourself cleaned up and help me with dinner before your father gets home.” Dad? Coming home? Could it be? She ran to her mother and flung her arms around her. “Emmy!” she chuckled, “What has gotten into you, Peanut? Now go. Wash up.”

Emilia scurried in to wash up and got back to her mother to help. She was shaking! She accidentally dropped a knife, cutting her hand. Her mother gasped and grabbed a towel to wrap her hand. “Hold this tight while I get some bandages,” she told her. Upon returning, her mother unwrapped the cut. “I don’t think you will need stitches,” she said as she disinfected and bandaged the wound. “There!” she said as she kissed Emilia’s hand. “My brave girl. You must be careful! You’re the only one I’ve got!” Emilia wrapped her arms around her mother’s neck, soaking in the moment.

Dinner was ready. Emilia’s father had come home, and was greeted by the same flood of emotions that Emilia had expressed for her mother. As they ate dinner, Emilia told them of her life. They marveled at her imagination as she told them about her position as a teaching assistant. How she loved opening the minds of young ones. How she hoped to become a teacher herself someday. Time seemed to have stopped. The time together lasted so very long, yet seemed to be over far too quickly.

Emilia awoke at the base of her tree. The ice in her tea hadn’t even melted! It was as if no timed passed at all! Was it just a dream? She looked down at her hand. It was wrapped! She hastily unbandaged it to expose a fresh cut.