French Marigold Image by yganeshbabu from Pixabay
Marigold
Author: This is my first attempt at suspense 👻
The Girl stared at it.
This 'thing' that is annoyingly protruding on the very heart of her Junior High School Flower Garden.
And for some reason, this very very happy but faded green miniature figurine of a garden elf, is just standing in the middle of the flower bed of her prized French Marigold, that she meticulously cultivated from seedlings.
She picked it up and dusted it off, but it seems that the stains on it are permanent. Disgusted she threw it away, up towards the other side of the wall, which ended with a big crashing sound. Satisfied she looked back smiling at her flowers and so, she started her morning routine at her beloved garden as per her usual day.
After making sure everything is as perfect as could be, she went straight to her classroom and immediately sat on her seat by the window. She opened her bag to take out a notebook, but to her surprise there was a bright yellow marigold inside. She picked it up and smiled admiringly at the flower.
When suddenly she felt a thud on her bag.
Her face turned pale, cold sweat started to run down her forehead, as her eyes widened at the sight of the garden elf's downcast face poking out of her bag. Abruptly she stood up, her chair crashing behind while her bag dropped down scattering her books on the floor in front of her.
She put a hand on her mouth to stop herself from screaming, while her eyes ran amok on it's socket trying to find the elf.
Everyone stared at her and some started asking her questions that just went past her head. She slowly bent down and picked up her bag from its bottom corner.
Slowly she lifted it up and poured out the remaining contents.
One by one the contents slide out, a textbook, a pencil case, and finally a blood red marigold drops slowly down the floor.
She shrieked and clawed her way backwards, hitting the small floor cabinet hard. She heard some kind of ceramic rolling just above, her heart skipped a beat and it felt like time just stopped, but her head is saying it didn't as everything is getting blurred out by the tears that are welling out of her eyes.
Something fell on the side and then softly hitting her hand, tears ran its course down her cheeks. Her neck strained, as her eyes dragged her stubborn head downward.
A green elf is staring up at her with an inhumanely huge frown and the black paint on its eyes running down its face like a river.
She ran, slamming the door on her way out, jumping down the stairs, and pushing open the school gates. Her mind is scattered and the only thing guiding her now is her body which still remembers the way to the sanctuary that is her home.
Seeing the door of her house sent a warm feeling of salvation.
She was but a few steps away when the door suddenly opened. A viridescent color flashed before her eyes, sending a wave of dread…. her body suddenly refused to move then her mind went blank.
She woke up gasping for air as if she was drowning.
A loving voice rang in her ears. She turned to see her Mother sitting by her side and finally her heart broke out the tears it's been keeping inside, she flung her arms around her as she wailed a feeling of relief.
Her Mother embraced her gently, while she asked what happened.
She explained in every detail the horror that engulfed her senses. Her Mother smiled and led her by the hand. She knelt and put her hand together close to her chest then motioned her to come beside her.
She knelt beside her Mother. She slowly raised her hands together till her fingers clasped with one another, she closed her eyes tightly and listened closely to her mother's prayer.
She asked God for forgiveness then said her thanks for having her mother and for everything else. When she opened her eyes her Mother was smiling, with an outstretched hand reaching out to her, using all her might she grabbed it with both hands.
They slowly walked back to school and went around the back where the supposedly green garden elf was thrown. She trembled as she saw its head among the broken glass; immediately she grabbed her Mother and buried her face on her side. She could hear her Mother's soft laughter as she moved toward the figurine.
She stared at her Mother while she was wiping it gently with her handkerchief, as if she was handling a precious vase. Seeing that the stain will not come off, her Mother decided to take it back home.
She watched her Mother from behind the curtains, as she washed It carefully then wiped it clean, then followed her hurriedly to their garage where she saw her taking some paint and then bringing it back to the kitchen.
She gazed at her Mother as she painted the little green elf with such meticulousness. Her eyes wandered to the elf, surprised as she was finally seeing the little green man as it is:
a very very happy green garden elf with a small shovel in its hand.
The next morning she carried the little green elf back to her garden and carefully placed him on a shady spot where he could view the whole flower bed.
After her routine she went straight back to her seat by the window and smiled as she picked up a bright yellow marigold laying nicely on her table.
FIN
Author's Notes
French Marigolds (Tagetes patula)
French marigolds have long, prolific blooms. They are short, bushy plants, that can grow up to 18 inches tall. Flower color ranges from yellow, orange, and mahogany (this color could look like blood red) and they are are about 2 inches across.src
I love gardening ♥️ and I actually have a small flower garden back home
Garden Elves, Garden Dwarves (Gartenzwerge in German) or most commonly known as Garden Gnomes, are well know decorations on lawns and gardens (mostly on the western and european part of the world). Some even say that these 'little folks' help out with the gardening.src
As far as i know there are no 'elves' back home at Philippines , and our version of 'dwarves' are not so friendly or helpful even 🤣
