Flowers

The old man sat in front of his kiosk with his flowers arranged and displayed in front. In the back through the little wooden door where he sat in the rain was his extra inventory. He watched as the people walked by, some of them stopping to admire his flowers some of them buying some, asking him how he got them to look so vibrant or how they smelled so good. He just smiles, thanks them for the compliment and watch’s them go on their way.

“Mommy look at the pretty flowers,” the little girl said “ can we get one? Please.”

Without waiting for an answer she ran up to the old man.

“Excuse me?” she said “mister, can I buy,”she stopped curls her nose and says, “ I mean we buy a flower?”

He didn’t have time to answer before her mother hurried over apologizing

“I’m so sorry sir, Annie leave the man alone besides we can’t buy any flowers today”

The old man smiled and said “It’s ok miss she’s no bother and I’m sorry to hear you can’t buy any of my beautiful flowers today, don’t you think they’re beautiful?” He smiled.

“They are very...... pleasant,” the mother said letting the pause linger.

The old mans smiled waivered almost imperceptibly but remained.

Annie said “Please mommy they’re the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.”

The old man turned to her and said “Well little miss I say thank you for that. It does me good to see someone think my flowers are as beautiful as I do. I tell you what,I can give you one, but it’s not right to do so between strangers. I know your name already it’s Annie right?”the little girl nodded eyes bright “Well mines Vic. Now we know each other we ain’t strangers no more and I can give you one.”

“Sir.” The mother started

“Vic.” he said

“Vic.” she said almost spitting it out as if it tasted bad “ we really don’t want to bother you, besides we have to be on our way and I really don’t think she should be indulged.”

“No mam it’s no bother, besides the little miss here puts my beautiful flowers to shame, it would be my pleasure.” He smiled again.

“Oh please mommy let him.”

“Ok.” She sighed , “fine but then we have to go.”

The old man stood up, looked at his flowers, thought for a second and said “Nope these won’t do they’ve been in the hot sun all day, why don’t you and your mother come back here, I’ve got fresh cool ones that are even more beautiful in my little store room.” With that he walked around the little platform opened the door,smiled, looked at the mother and daughter and said “are you coming?”

The little girl rushed around the platform and was through the door the mother followed seemingly just too frustrated to be bothered.

The old man looked around at his stock, smiled, pulled a sign that read back in five from his pocket, hung it on a pole that supports the small roof and stepped inside the small room.

“Mommy look at the flowers they’re even more beautiful.”

The mother stepped forward, staggered, eyes growing wide, gurgling she reached up and grabbed her throat just as the end of a garden sheer protruded through, just below her chin. She started to fall forward, Vic caught her and guided her to the floor. “Bitch,”he said more to himself “pleasant are they, I’ll show you pleasant,my flowers are beautiful.” He looked at the little girl “Annie,” he said “ you are a beautiful little miss and you will sprout the most perfect flowers.”

The end