Flower Child – Flash Fiction

Flower Child

Every Sunday without fail, mother and I would walk to the station and catch the morning train to the coast to see my grandmother.   

Mother would tend to grandmother’s garden, caring for roses, mowing grass and trimming bushes. I amused myself as best I could for an eight-year old but mostly I learned about flowers.  Names like Peony, Hollyhock, and Delphinium. The term “bedding plants” made the child I was, giggle.  But pretty blue Lobelia was prefect next to the white Alyssum.

Exhausted we’d return in the early evening with armfuls of her beautiful blooms.   

I did not always want to go.  I know now my mother was escaping from her unhappy life and needed the diversion.  She is no longer here and I think I’d like, too, to plant the sweet alyssum that smells like honey and peace reminding me always of her.

Copyright © 2022 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing
All Rights Reserved

Sanaa aka adashofsunny is hosting Prosery Monday at D'Verse.
She has prompted us with this line from a poem that is to be included
in our piece of flash fiction exactly as it is.  

"I’d like, too, to plant the sweet alyssum that smells like honey and peace.”  from the poem, “What I would like to grow in my Garden.” by Katherine Riegel.

The piece of flash fiction is to have no more than 144 words' 

  21 comments for “Flower Child – Flash Fiction

  1. September 16, 2022 at 12:08 pm

    Gentle meanderings along beautiful paths from childhood, Christine. Can’t think of a better way to honor your mother than by planting flowers. Such an enjoyable read.

    • Christine Bolton
      September 18, 2022 at 7:35 am

      Thank you Lisa. What I know about flowers I learned from her. It was a wonderful gift.

  2. September 13, 2022 at 3:57 pm

    Nothing can remind you more of the past than such sweet scent

    • Christine Bolton
      September 14, 2022 at 12:14 am

      Yes that is so true ☺️

  3. sanaarizvi
    September 13, 2022 at 2:47 pm

    This is incredibly touching, Christine! I felt every word. You weave in the line by Riegel so wonderfully that for a moment it felt like it was made for your prose piece. Sigh.. thank you so much for writing to the prompt ❤❤

    • Christine Bolton
      September 14, 2022 at 12:15 am

      You are always so kind, thank you Sanaa ☺️💕

  4. September 13, 2022 at 11:12 am

    A wonderful tribute to your mother. Very heartwarming.

    • Christine Bolton
      September 14, 2022 at 12:15 am

      Thank you so much Nitin. I’m happy you thought so ☺️💕

  5. September 13, 2022 at 4:54 am

    This is a very moving piece. Nice flash Christine.

    • Christine Bolton
      September 13, 2022 at 10:21 am

      Thank you so much Darnell. I appreciate that ☺️💕

  6. September 13, 2022 at 2:08 am

    Memories can be both pleasant and painful

    • Christine Bolton
      September 13, 2022 at 10:20 am

      Yes and we can learn from them, happy or sad ☺️💕

      • September 13, 2022 at 10:33 am

        That’s so true

  7. September 13, 2022 at 12:01 am

    A very nice nostalgic story! Well done.

    • Christine Bolton
      September 13, 2022 at 10:19 am

      Thank you Dwight. It was therapeutic for me ☺️

  8. September 12, 2022 at 11:19 pm

    Poignant and beautiful in your telling.

    • Christine Bolton
      September 13, 2022 at 10:19 am

      Thank you Carol, so kind ☺️💕

  9. September 12, 2022 at 10:01 pm

    Beautiful memories.

    • Christine Bolton
      September 13, 2022 at 10:18 am

      Thank you K. I enjoyed the journey back there. ☺️💕

  10. September 12, 2022 at 9:49 pm

    Memories revisited with new eyes…I like this a lot, Christine.

    • Christine Bolton
      September 13, 2022 at 10:18 am

      Thank you Mish. It was a nice journey back to the future. 🥰

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