Myshuno! 2012 Prompt: “Gardening” (105 words)

[esmeiolanthe]

The prompt for this story was “Gardening” submitted by biglenny. This story fits into the current chapter of Already in Progress.

Rating: G



Dramatis Personae

Chant Couderc, grown-from-spores plantsim and possessor of a Gold Gardening Badge.

Phoebe (Shankel) Couderc, his wife, who always speaks in Elizabethan and who only has a Silver Gardening Badge.

Setting

The growing-plants area of the Couderc farm. Chant is talking to some underperforming peppers. Phoebe grabs a handful of weeds and pulls.

CHANT: Whoa, stop! What are you doing?

PHOEBE: (looks at the weeds in her hand and then at him) Weeding?

CHANT: Not like that! You’re just ripping them out of the ground!

PHOEBE: (looks at ground and then at him) Aye?

CHANT: It hurts them.

PHOEBE: Are they not but weeds?

CHANT: Weeds are just plants growing where you don’t want them. They’re still plants, just like me. Pull them slowly.

PHOEBE: But if ’twere done, ’tis well ’twere done quickly, surely?

CHANT: No. Slow and gentle. Like this. (demonstrates)

PHOEBE: (imitates him) Thus?

CHANT: That’s it. (approvingly) We’ll make a farmer of you yet.