I WOULD BE ME.

 

The park wasn`t his of course, he was only its gardener, but since he had begun, he had worked to bring perfect colour to the flower beds.  Save for the last thing it was now exactly how he wanted it.  It smelled like home.

His mother had been happy in her garden. 

`Her little island of joy. ` She used to call it.

He touched at his hair under his cap and watched the last of the visitors leave the park.     

He`d said one day.  `I`m going to be a flower when I grow up. The most colourful flower in the garden. ` His mother had stopped then and turned to smile at him.   His mother`s smile the rarest of flowers.

` And what flower would you be? ` She`d asked.

` I would be me. ` He`d said.

She had returned to her pruning.

He made his quick way to the largest of the islands of flower beds, which mapped the park.

The soil was soft from the recent rains, and he easily prepared it for planting like he`d watched his mother do so many times.

He planted himself in the soft earth in the centre of the flower bed.

He removed his cap to reveal his hair all orange, yellow and green.      

` I would be me. ` He smiled as the rain came again and he bloomed at last.

 

 

THE LAND OF WALLS

 

Mary`s face tight, the words wrenching her grinding teeth apart, prising open her vice like lips.  ` Is this the Wall of Resentment? `

The Stonemason began to mix the Sand and Clay.

Mary at the Stonemason`s face.  ` Look at me.  I`m not invisible. `

The Stonemason continued to stir, sprinkling lime into the mix.

Mary`s face pulsed. She stabbed under each of her eyes with her index finger. `Wrinkles. And here. ` She lowered her head.  ` I dye my hair and still it shows through. `   Mary`s rapid breath on the Stonemason`s face. ` That `little madam` voice of hers. You know what she had the cheek to say? `My mother just accepted it when she went grey. Not that you`re as old as my mum, Mary!  Just saying. ` Just saying!!  She hardly wears any make-up the little... ` 

Mary screaming.  ` I`m not old.  I can`t be old. It`s not fair.  Smiley smiley everybody loves her.  ` She’s a breath of fresh in the office don`t you think? `

The Stonemason mixed in the Iron Oxide.

` No I don`t think. ` She shouted into the Stonemason`s face. ` I was once a breath… ` 

Finally Magnesia added.

` I was.  ` Said Mary.

Mary turned and left the way she came as the Stonemason placed the finished brick in the wall.

The wall shuddered for a moment, and a crack scarred the wall above the Stonemason`s head.

The Stonemason checked the base of the Wall of Resentment.  The bricks were vibrating with the weight.  As always the Wall of Resentment would be the first to go and then the Wall of Anger in the next valley. Others in the valleys beyond would tumble like dominoes.   

The Stonemason waited as John approached.

John`s face tight, the words wrenching his grinding teeth apart, prising open his vice like lips. ` Is this the Wall of Resentment? `

The Stonemason began to mix the Sand and Clay.

John at the Stonemason`s face. ` It`s not fair.  Why me? `