Tybee's Undone Journal

“There’s a lavender under that dirt!” said the old man about the one patch of dirt in the city next to the large LifeGreat business building. Across from it a bench where the old man sat. “You’re crazy.” said a women walking by the exclaiming old man. “Nothing grows in this city, let alone this small patch of dirt. I walk by it everyday.” The old man on the bench next to the dirt patch then said, “Oh, but you are mistaken. I saw a gardener walk by with a bundle of lavender flowers and saw a seed fall into the dirt right in this very spot. (These days all plants are grown inside synthetically due to low air quality from pollution and deforestation.) “I’ve also heard it’s going to be a dry spring which lavender loves.” The women then said while beginning to walk away. “Alright, old man. Have a wonderful day.” As she was walking away the old man saw and heard her speak lightly to another man on the street. He faintly heard, “I would go another way, there’s a crazy old man on the bench talking about outdoor plants, flowers, and fairy tales. I wouldn’t bother. Now I’m running late and I assume you don’t want to do the same.”

The boy whom the women spoke to regardless of what she said, became curious as he hadn’t heard anyone talk about plants outdoors since his mother used to tell him stories. Approaching the old man he respectfully asked, “Hello sir, a women told me you were talking about plants (not including the craziness she had mentioned). “Ah yes young man.” said the benchman. “I saw a lavender seed drop in this dirt with my very own eyes. I’ve also heard rumors of a dry spring. Some could even say golden seasons for this lavender plant here.” Speaking as if it was already sprouted and visible for the two of them. “And judging by the past 50 dry spring times in this town, I have a lingering feeling that rumor may be true.” stated the old man sarcastically. “I have been sharing my drink with this here lavender.” the old man says as he flips around his bottle of Luluz Lemonade that has a bright smiley face on it. The boy showed a questionable expression on his face and said, “How can you be so sure when there’s nothing?”

The old man responded, “With the right conditions, a bit of love, and a lot of faith, anything can happen. Why should a flower not grow in this dirt?” The boy responded, “I guess… now that you say it, it really doesn’t seem that crazy. I used to see pictures of flowers in the dirt. Big beautiful, colorful rows of them even. My mother used to show me pictures before she passed away.” “I’m sorry about your mother son. Your lucky to have someone who appreciated the beauties of life. I’m sure she was a wonderful woman. People in this city have just what I called lost a bit of touch.” So then the boy say with the old man sharing the drink among themselves and the patch of soon to be lavender over stories of their pasts. The man mentioned big beautiful forests and gardens. The boy was entranced in amazement as the old man spoke. The boy shared stories of his childhood and reminisced on his mothers jokes and stories. Talking until the sun began to set and it was time to head home. The boy returned to this bench to meet the old man everyday.

Eventually. A sprout did pop out of that dirt patch. The old man sat on the bench and the boy dropped to the ground to get an eye level examination. They were both mesmerized by the sight. “You were right!” exclaimed the boy. He raised from the ground jumping up and down. The old man had a calm smile on his face. “Aren’t you excited?” said the boy. The old man continued to sit quietly nearly unphased as if he knew the whole time then said with his light smile “Ah bud, beautiful yes, surprise no.”

The boy would then return ever so often. Less as the excitement fell due to expectation and busyness. At home he helped take care of his sick father who had Legionnaires’ disease. Before the boy’s father got to his state of stupor. He used to angrily say with his fist in the air “If it weren’t for all those damn factories I would still be able to sing.” Singing was the one thing he loved to do. He also took care of the families raggedy dog who despite his old age showed excitement like no other that filled the boy with happiness every time he got home. The boy then began returning to the dirt patch and bench more as the spring came closer to an end and summer was on the horizon with the anticipation of flowers.

The day came, the plant flowered beautiful purple flowers. Staring at it’s enticing purple shade, thinking of the memories, the empty dirt patch, and what had come out of it. The boy grew tall with contentment and grandeur as the flower had from the dirt. The boy continued to look in amazement until he said “wow.” The old man then blurted, “Aha! We shall make tea with this lavender. So they did. The old man pulled out a rusty pair of shears from his side pocket as well as a small kettle filled with water and a paper filter from a bag he had with him. Seeing the old mans preparation for the moment made the boy smile. The old man and boy both sat next to one another on the bench staring at the water as it filled with dark purple from the steeping flowers. After a few minutes the tea was fully steeped and the old man said, “Alright, lets give her a try. Cheers.” They clanked their mugs together. Before taking a sip the old man interjected and said, “No need to share this one here with Lavender as she is providing for us now.” They both sipped their warm and aromatic tea. The old man and the boy looked interestingly at one another. Faces of contentment transformed into signs of slight discomfort. Their mouths began to itch. They both set down their mugs with haste and quickly began scratching their tongues. The old man exclaimed, I must have mistaken the gardener’s plants for Mexican Sage!