Emma had lived with her grandma since she could learn to speak. Her father who nursed her until then lived abroad, which was where he did his business. But that summer, Emma's grandma got so sick that she had to be hospitalized, leaving the house in the care of Emma who was now frustrated that the plants were dying off slowly.
The next day, Emma woke up as early as she could. She took the sprinkler and watered the plants and the flower beds. After that, she had breakfast and went to the hospital to visit her grandma.
"Grandma, how are you feeling?" Emma asked as she sat on a chair by the bedside.
"My dearest, I'm doing well. The doctor said I'll be better in no time." Her grandma responded.
Emma's grandma noticed the frown on her granddaughter's face. She cupped her chin with both hands, making her look up at her.
"Why does my angel wear a frown when I'm here?" She asked Emma.
"The plants are dying off, and I don't know what to do. I've tried to water them every morning but there's still no change in sight." Emma replied.
Her grandma sighed. She asked for a glass of water, and when she had drunk from the glass, she sat on the bedside table and sighed again.
"Emma, you worry too much. The weather is probably too hot on the plants, that's why they're in that condition." She said.
"But this isn't the first summer since you started farming in that yard. Why does it have to be this bad now that you aren't there to tend to it?" Emma complained sadly.
"Keep watering them, and hopefully if it rains, the plants might survive." Her grandma said.
"Spring is still far away. How can I revive those plants?" Emma whined like a child.
"Let's not lose hope, my dear child." Her grandma advised.
After spending more time with her grandma, Emma went back to the house. Before going to bed, she watered the plants again and earnestly hoped that they survived.
The next day, Emma watered the plants, and the day after that, she did it over and over again, but to her dismay, the plants remained the same.
One of the most annoying things was the fact that the house felt so hot and very uncomfortable for Emma, coupled with the vegetables that she was dealing with. Emma wondered if she would survive the remaining months of the summer season.
One day, after Emma finished her routine of watering the plants, she went into the house to sleep, but she felt lonely. She decided to invite her friends over to spend the night with her.
"I've been wondering how you manage to keep it together, staying here all alone; it must be hard for you." Susan, one of her friends said.
"Well, you're right. Staying here all alone, in this hot weather is annoying. I feel worse because my grandma's plants are dying off with every passing day." Emma poured out her heart to her friends and they consoled her.
"About the plants, Emma, it'll take a miracle for them to survive. I mean no offense, but this summer seems to be different from the past ones. I can barely keep my clothes on my body this period. If I can feel this way, how would a mere plant survive?" Mara, her other friend said.
"Grandma said I shouldn't relent in watering the plants. Hopefully, they'll survive somehow." Emma replied.
The girls talked and joked till it was almost midnight, then a loud sound was heard.
"Was that a thunderbolt or are my ears playing pranks on me?" Susan asked with a look of surprise on her face.
Not long after that, it started to drizzle, and soon after, the drizzling turned to a downpour. Emma screamed with joy; she ran out of the house with her friends and they played under the rain, till it became too heavy and loud for them.
"How could this be? It wasn't supposed to rain for the next two months." Mara cited.
"I'm so happy. I wish the plants will get back to normal now." Emma said.
The girls changed into Emma's dress and went to bed. That night, Emma slept like a baby.
The next two days were the same, as it always rained at night till dawn. Emma began to watch the plants, and like a dream, they bloomed amazingly. She was overjoyed that her grandma's plants had recovered from their withering.
When Emma went to visit her grandma, she told her of the plant's progress.
"Spring came earlier than expected." Her grandma said.
"I'm glad that it did. Watching those plants die off was sad and frustrating, but I'm glad they survived after all." Emma replied excitedly.
"It was indeed a miracle." Her grandma said.
"Yes, I agree with you. The surprise was indeed a miraculous one." Emma replied and smiled.
Thanks for reading.
