Theme: Every cloud has a silver lining

The flower and the wall

Once upon a time there was a flower that lived in Mr. Milton’s backyard.

He was very fond of plants and took care of them with attention. Therefore, his backyard was a very pleasant place, and his plants were very beautiful.

Despite everything going well there, there was a flower that was unhappy.

She liked the soft earth, the fresh water that reached her roots and even her neighbors. She also liked the compliments Mr. Milton tell her, enjoying her color, her delicate petals, and her soft scent. But she didn't accept the fact that she was planted near the backyard wall. She was always complaining about it.

The flower loved when the rays of the morning sun reached her with that nice warmth. The flower was proud and thought she was brighter in the sunlight. But the wall blocked out the sun light at certain times of the day and she didn't like being in its shade at all.

In addition, the flower didn't like either the wall preventing her from seeing the people passing on the other side, on the sidewalk of that street. She would also like to be able to be seen and admired by them.

- This big wall is in my way! I don't know why Mr. Milton planted me here.

The flower complained almost every day and believed that she was really unlucky to live in those conditions.

But the wall had been built a long time ago. It was a little curved and threatened to fall at any moment. One day, Mr. Milton hired some men who to put the wall down.

The flower couldn't believe what was happening.

- Today is my lucky day! God must have heard my prayers. Or He must have seen that I deserved even more freedom. What good thing! Goodbye, unnecessary wall - she said scornfully.

When the men left and the dust had settled, the flower, full of happiness, was admiring the street and the people passing by. But there were also some animals.

And one of them, a very curious little dog, decided to enter Mr. Milton and even peeing on one of the plants.

The flower was horrified.

- What barbarity! What a cheeky dog! It is unacceptable!

Despite this unpleasant event, the flower was still enjoying the news, as some people passing by, looked inside, and admired the plants in that beautiful backyard. The flower puffed herself up and stretched out to appear even more.

In fact, she was noticed by everyone because she was a very beautiful flower. As she was so beautiful, a girl wanted to have that flower for herself. And just like that, she went into the yard and grabbed the stem of the flower to pluck it. Luckily, Mr. Milton appeared just in time and the girl, embarrassed, ran away without taking the flower.

The flower did not die plucked. But she almost died of shock. She had never imagined that this could happen.

And the hours passed. The flower was no longer enjoying being exposed at all. But the situation got even worse.

Without the wall, there was nothing left to block the strong afternoon sun. The flower, which was always protected by the shadow of the wall, didn’t know that intense heat.

She used to think that the more sun the better but she couldn't take it anymore.

The day passed and, with the night, the flower was able to rest a little. But not for long, because a wind that came from the street, started to blow hard and shake the plants in the yard so much that several petals of the flower fell off. Even her leaves were damaged.

The other day, the flower was not feeling well. When the morning sun reached the flower again, instead of enjoying it, as it had before, she was worried, imagining that that would be another difficult day. And it was. And the next day too.

- My God, I don't know how long I'll be able to bear it - she said, exhausted.

The flower, worn out, no longer looked the same. Crushed, withered, without beauty or joy, she was already losing even the hope of being able to survive.

Until, one fine morning, a truck parked on the street and unloaded a pile of bricks. Later, two men came and began to rebuild the wall. And with that they also rebuilt the hopes of the flower.

In a few days the new wall was ready.

When the flower felt the coolness of the shadow of the wall again. she exclaimed:

- Thank God! Thank you so much, my God!

The flower and the other plants in the yard still took some time to recover. But little by little, everything returned to normal. The flower was again beautiful and happy.

Only one thing was different: the flower never complained about the wall again.

Translation:
Larissa Martine - larissa_am@hotmail.com

marcelapradacontato@gmail.com