Childhood days
I think flowers are nice and pretty. They’re so small and…um…small, so you have to take good care of them. Mommy told me that you have to water them every day so that they can grow-up big and strong. Mommy says that flowers can grow better if you talk to them. I tried that, but it got boring. Flowers don’t talk back, but girls can!
A new girl came into our class today. She’s small and quiet just like a flower. Mrs. McGee says, “Her name is Zoey. Treat her nicely, everyone,” Mrs. McGee reminded us. “It’s time to play outside!”
Everyone got happy at that. I saw Zoey swinging by herself. I asked one of the girls why. “She doesn’t talk.”
That doesn’t mean she has to be alone. Running to the swings, I sat in the one next to her and talked to her. She had a frowny face, and I wanted to cheer her up. I told her my name and how long I’ve been in school. She listened and made a small smile.
“Do you want to swing with me?” I asked her. Zoey nodded and moved her feet a little bit. “No, you have to move them a lot!” I showed her and she copied. Soon, we were both swinging high into the sky. I wanted to swing the highest, but I remembered I was trying to cheer her up so I let her swing higher than me.
“Okay everyone, back inside!” Mrs. McGee called out.
“It’s time to go back to class,” I told her. Zoey nodded. I hopped off the swing and waited for her to get down before running. Breathing a lot, Zoey caught up to me and tugged my sleeve so I could slow down. “What’s wrong?”
Zoey shook her head and gave me a flower. Mommy always says that I need to thank people when they give me something. I told her, “Thank you, Zoey.” Her little smile grew into a big one and we walked back to class together.
When I came home, I showed Mommy the flower Zoey gave me. “Max, she gave you an Acacia. In flower language, one of its meanings is friendship. Do you want her to be your friend?”
“Yes, Mommy.”
“Tomorrow at school, give her this.” Mommy took one of the snippers and got a small vine of ivy.
“But it’s not pretty.”
“But it means friendship.”
The next day, I gave the ivy vine to Zoey. “My Mommy says it means friendship,” I told her. Zoey nodded and from her pocket, she gave me a Gardenia. Mommy has those growing around outside the house. After school, I asked her, “Mommy, what does this flower mean?”
Mommy smiled. “One of its meanings is Joy.”810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9KGTTu3xQ
Middle School wings ready to fly810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtQ5XOjeFA
Zoey is so annoying! She always acts so smart around the teachers, but she’s a jerk. I asked her for help on my math homework once, and she shook her head. No. Once, I forgot to bring my color pencils and when I asked her if I can borrow hers, she shook her head. No.
At least I’m better in P.E. Zoey doesn’t like running at all. She likes to sit down in a little corner and watch the grass grow. Boring… So today, I decided to play a prank on her. After running, I saw her sit in her corner so I got on the track and got some sand into my hands.
Sneaking up behind her, I was going to throw the sand all over Zoey and scare her, but, she turned around and got it in her eyes. Was she mad or crying? I couldn’t tell. She ran away. I knew I was in trouble.
“Max, why? Why did you do it?” Mommy asked me, shaking my shoulders. I was crying.
“I didn’t mean to, Mommy. Zoey’s been mean to me.”
Mommy sighed. For once, she looked really sleepy. “Give her these. She’ll forgive you.”
“How do you know?” I wiped my tears and took the flowers Mommy gave me. Purple hyacinths? What does that mean in flower language? I hope it means sorry. I ran to Zoey’s house and knocked on the door. Zoey opened it.
Her eyes were red and teary. I hope these purple hyacinths work… Looking at my feet, I wanted to mumble ‘sorry’. But Mommy told me that an apology is real if you look straight into the person’s eyes. That’s what I did. Even though I was crying and my nose was dripping, I gave her the flowers and said,
“I’m sorry, Zoey…” She gave me a look. Taking the flowers with shaking hands, she gave me a flower from behind her back. It was a white tulip. She accepted the apology. She wrapped her arms around me and gave me a hug.
I felt her little fingers curl around mines. I don’t know how long we hugged, but it was for a long time. It got weird so I pushed her away. Behind her, I saw her Mommy.
“Oh Max, what are you doing here?” Zoey’s Mommy was all smiles. She probably doesn’t know what happened today. Mommy told me to never lie to an adult, so I told her what happened. Zoey’s Mommy didn’t get mad or sleepy. She made a weird smile and invited me for dinner. She told my Mommy about it and she agreed.
Zoey’s Mommy made salad with tomatoes and onions and carrots. Yuck… But I ate it anyway. It made Zoey happy that I ate the veggies. She knows I hate them. Smiling small to herself, she gave me a dandelion under the table.
She didn’t have to give it to me. I already knew she was happy. Her smile was all I needed. I coughed up a bit of the onions that were down my throat. What was I thinking?810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEk8CfTmAn
Adolescent, aka where do you stand in the crowd?810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRX0tldBRS
Really, I wasn’t into flowers when I was little. I only liked them so Mom would be happy, but Zoey got me to appreciate them, little by little. Besides talking to me via notes and texts, she tells me how she’s feeling through flowers. I knew I couldn’t always ask Mom for their meanings, so during the weekends, I’d study the flower language like I was learning my life.
Now, the skill’s not something you want the whole school to know. One, it’s bad on a guy’s reputation. Two, my perfect image of the quiet-guy would be blown.
Anyways, being in middle school isn’t all that bad. There are just more weirdoes but they’re ignorable. I also started walking Zoey home now after realizing girls were targets for guys. Shocking, I know. Most of the school is convinced we’re dating because of this, but we’re just friends!
Why would I like her? She’s all flowery and smiles…Basically; she’s an air-head. I don’t know what happened, but she’s full on girly now. Back in elementary, we were close buddies. Now, she has always has a pack of friends following her between classes. It’s annoying…
Mom says I need to give her a chance to befriend new people. She also says I’m jealous.
“The first sign of love, jealousy,” she whistled as she tended the garden.
“I’m not in love!”
“Right, Max.” She winked and hummed a little tune as she watered the daisies. Jeez, why is everyone thinking I love Zoey?! We’ve just been friends since pre-K!
Still, there’ve been awkward moments between us. Sometimes when I walk her home from the bus stop, my fingers almost always find a way to curl around her hand. Sometimes when she gives me a flower, I find myself thinking: What should I give her? Yeah…but I’m not in love with her.
We’re in eighth grade now. Tonight’s the last dance for middle school before all of us teens waltz into high school. I’m wearing a classy vest and tie. My friends are inside, dancing and eating with girls or something. Really, I didn’t want to go, but Mom kind of forced the matter on my plate.
I knew Zoey wasn’t coming to the dance, so that made me lonelier. So I got out my phone and started texting to her. She’s at home watching a movie. Do you want to watch? She texted me.
Can’t, I text back. I’m at the dance. It’s so boorriinng!
Cool. I can’t dance. I would like to try.
Do you want me to show you? I texted her.
She didn’t respond back. Ten minutes later, I saw a car drive up to the school and air-head Zoey hopped out. I look at her shoes and see that she’s wearing her Sunday ones. She does want me to teach her.
I’m a guy, so this was my first time too. We did this slow Victorian-era dance or something around the parking lot. It was a waltz, basically. Zoey steered while I slowly followed, making sure not to step on her feet. I don’t know how it happened, but I had a flower in my hand.
It seemed right to give her the flower, so I tucked it behind her ear. It took me a moment to realize what flower it was. It was a Magnolia, the symbolism of white innocence. I-It doesn’t mean I love her!810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKchPOslbju
College just behind the corner810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtDh0o7ft0
High school really flew by for me and Zoey. I’m taller than her now and more relaxed about things, like Zoey hanging out with her friends and stuff. People know that I know about the flower language. Really, I don’t know why I hid it in middle school. In turns out, girls like a guy that isn’t afraid of showing his girly side.
Heh, Zoey’s changed a lot too. Nowadays, she’s pretty shy around me. She only talks to me via flowers now. Mom says she’s sad.
“You two are going to different colleges, right?” She asked, slicing carrots.
“Yeah, a school up North sent her an invitation,” I said, washing the greens. “It’s too expensive, and I don’t know anyone up there so I don’t have a roommate.”
“Yes, it’s cheaper when you have a roommate,” Mom sighed. Seeing her sigh reminded me of how old she’s getting now. Nowadays, Mom can’t tend the garden without me for support. I’ve been looking for colleges close to the area, but the closest one was an hour away. So, I turned my attention onto doing college online instead. Mom says I need to go to college. She says, “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
I didn’t believe Mom’s words, but I pretended to, for her sake. Well, college is just behind the corner. Zoey’s leaving soon. Mom’s going to be alone at home now…810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8Hg485P2r
At the airport, Zoey’s Mom and Dad wished her good luck in college and had their last hugs and kisses. When she was on the plane, she opened her back pack to get her phone. Instead of reaching for it, she picked up a flower. It was a white rose. When she saw the flower, Zoey’s eyes began to well up with tears.810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAv8cgjq0I
For Max, he saw his flower in his car. After saying goodbye to Mom, he hopped into his car and drove down the street. He wondered if Zoey saw his gift or not. As he got on the highway, he noticed there was a flower on his dashboard. It was an Acacia, the first flower Zoey ever gave him. He knew what its other meanings are now. One of its other meanings was ‘Secret Love’. It was hard for Max to bite back the stinging feeling in his eyes.
She really is a flower girl, he thought.810Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsk9x2tb8v
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