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But to focus heavily on growing time intensive flowers would be a folly. With limited time, energy, and water, I can’t help but feel guilty of diverting attention away from food to inedible pretty garden decorations.
Defensiveness sprouts inside me. Wanting nothing more than to change the subject, I deflect as I purse my lips. “Yeah? Well, we’ve dandelions. Those are flowers.” Crouching over the asparagus, I pull out the weeds from the garden.
Perhaps yanking them a tad more forcefully than strictly necessary. But it gets the job done all the same.
Arista groans, her hands making quick progress with the beans. “Dandelions are weeds.”
Furrowing my brow, I shoot her an indignant look.
Of all flowers, I can relate to them the most. Rejected from the masses with turned up noses due to no fault of their own.
I’m a dandelion.
A weed that the world wishes to cease to exist.
Yet, here I am. Regardless of what makes the world more comfortable.
Swallowing, I turn back to my friend. Clamoring to think of anything to convince her that I’m not a weed. “But they still have a flower and taste great in salads and tea! They’re a useful flower.” I challenged with wide and pleading eyes.
Giving me a pointed look, Ari rolls her eyes.
So much for changing her mind.
It's fine, I reassure myself.
Weeds like me are misunderstood.
I stand up from the ground and I stretch. Looking down at my friend, I furrow my brow. Eager to change the subject, I let out a loud groan. “Ari, really? Again? You left so many weeds behind. Didn’t you see these?” I point to the clusters of weeds directly in front of her knees.
“Sorry Pandy.” Her large eyes give me the sweetest of pouts. The very look in which she knows I can’t hold a grudge against her for long.
You sneaky little malaka. I sigh loudly. Dirty work wasn’t her style. Especially when it involved actual dirt. Giving in to her look, I reply in a huff, “It's alright. Make sure to get those weeds this time and I promise that next time I'm in the woods, I'll try to bring back some daffodils.”
Glancing down at my friend’s hands, I'm in awe of them. How she could always remain mess free when caring for the garden is something I'm jealous of. When my gardening time comes to a close, I look like I picked a fight with a charcoal pile… and lost.
Her green eyes light up as brightly as the sun. “I would like that. It may not be planting season for them, but I believe between the two of us, we will be able to get them blooming soon.”
Scrunching my nose, I grin at her. “I don’t know when Dad will have us move next.” It may not be worth the effort. I drop my voice down low as I state, “I think this may be the longest we’ve been in one place.”
Dad, Arista, and I aren’t meant to be fixed in one place. Long since before I could remember, we’ve wandered. Staying in one location for no more than a year. Karpathos was different. An anomaly as we’ve stayed now for nearly two.
Thinking back to our old homes, flashes of many pass through my memory. Far too many to even remember all the places, the faces of the villagers, and what memories belonged where. Sometimes, we chose to leave, other times we’re forced out. My favorite house was in Athens. But a fire prompted our move. After much journeying, we eventually found Karpathos.
… And unfortunately, we also found my now stepmom and aunt.
Though Celeste has turned out to be a wonderful friend and stepsister. With enough time, I foresee us becoming as close as Arista and me.
Sighing loudly, I reply, “On that note, I should probably find Dad and see if he wants to check the hunting traps with me.” Clapping my hands together, I shake off a crusted layer of dirt. Patting, my clothes, finer mud powder does the same. Puffing up in smoke before dissipating toward the ground.
“Pandy, I don’t think today is a good day to enter the forest.” Ari’s normally cheerful voice is grave. “The woods are too treacherous today.”
Her wide eyes cast a look of fear toward me. Large orbs pleading for me to take her words to heart.
Not every day do we’ve such a potent risk of the gods being out on the prowl.
Regardless, a bit of fear isn’t enough for us to risk not having any food to eat. Giving her a crooked grin, I shrug as I roll my eyes. “The forest is dangerous every day.” Opening her mouth to protest, I snapped my head toward our modest townhome. “See you later Arista.”
“This is a bad idea.” My friend's soft voice echoes in my mind.
