'This is a serious crime you know. I may have to charge you.' A look of grim determination sketched over his face. He looked down at the lady standing in front of him frowning deeply at her.
The grey haired lady hardly dare meet his gaze. She felt his dark eyes boring into her. 'Is it?' she replied, in a soft voice.
'Yes it is, and what do you have to say for yourself, eh?' He could see her starting to quiver with nerves, but had no intention of letting up because of the gravity of the crime committed.
The lady bit down on her bottom lip, wringing both hands against her waist, mortified. 'Oh...but...'
The man stood firm, not budging with his questioning, for it had only just begun. 'You see fit to steal seeds and plants from anywhere you please...'
'Oh no sir, not just anywhere,' she interjected, willingly admitting her involvement.
By now the policeman was becoming aware that he didn't have a timid elderly lady on his hands, but one who had definite ideas of her own. 'And what do you mean by that if you please?'
'Well sir, I'm very discerning. I'd never steal plants. Oh no! That really is stealing.'
'Is that so? Anything else?'
'Why, yes sir...' The lady glanced down at her hands, feeling his eyes still boring down at her like sharp daggers, before deciding to take the bull by the horns so to speak. She looked the policeman square in the face, her cheeks rosy with heated emotion and summoned up a little courage from where, she knew not. 'I can't help it if flowers go to seed, can I sir? If plucked at just the right time, you can gather them up, then sow them again later, thus starting the cycle over again. Don't you think that's something kind of special?' A slight smile broke out over her face, one of hope. She raised her eyebrows in anticipation.
The policeman shifted his position, dropping his arms, placing his hands into his trouser pockets. By now he was trying hard not to smile, his mouth relaxing before contorting into an expression resembling worry. 'Well err...' He was momentarily stuck for words, not knowing how to deal with this unusual case before him.
The lady continued, obviously completely missing the point in hand. 'My garden looks very nice sir, it's growing ever so well, and...'
'There's more?'
'Yes sir. I can't help it if plants flow over walls and across pathways. Sometimes the council just don't have enough time to keep things trimmed back - in the parks either.'
By now the policeman was beside himself and didn't quite know how to take the next step. He frowned down at her. 'Indeed!'
'You see,' the lady continued, regardless of what she was letting herself in for. 'I don't think it's so wrong to nip off a wee bit here and there as a small cutting and grow it on in my garden. I'm sure it would all go to waste otherwise - don't you think so sir?'
'Err...' he began, before getting to the point once again. 'It's still a crime. You cannot go around stealing from wherever you please,' he insisted.
The lady hung her head studying her shoes, still covered in soil. 'Oh dear! Is it sir? I had no idea...' She grasped her hands behind her back, expression one of deep concern.
'Yes it is. Imagine if everyone went around nipping off the tops of plants? They'd probably be nothing left.'
'I don't think so sir,' the grey haired lady replied, becoming animated. 'No one else seems to care as I do. Seeds simply drop to the ground, scattering and either get blown away or washed into puddles when it rains.'
She looked up meeting his gaze again, becoming more confident with each passing moment. He appeared to be shaking his head slowly.
'That's not the point.'
'Isn't it sir? Oh dear,' she repeated. 'I'm sorry then...'
The policeman was becoming exasperated. 'Are you?'
'No sir.'
'You're not sorry?' he asked in bewilderment.
'Not really sir. I...' The lady wrung her hands again, shifting from one leg to the other, mouth twisting in confused contortion.
The policeman crossed his arms. 'What am I to do with you, eh?' He stared at her, puzzled and confused, not really sure of the next step to take.
The lady thought for a moment, her face darkening. 'You won't put me in jail will you sir? She coughed, her throat restricting with anguish. 'I mean, I'd simply hate it there - all cooped up and no garden to attend, no flowers or trees to look at or smell after the rain. I wouldn't even see the rain fall or the sun shine, would I?'
The tall burly man stood erect, rolling his eyes. 'Certainly not! But what I think I will do,' he replied hesitantly. He placed an index finger against a cheek, deep in thought.
Silence.
'Is what sir?' the lady asked meekly, not really wishing to know his answer. She began to shake in fear of any consequences.
At that crucial moment, I awoke from the dream in somewhat of a lather, feeling more than a little guilty. I stared at the darkened outline of the few pieces of furniture dotted around my room, thinking about the dream I'd just experienced. I couldn't help smiling to myself knowingly, and bit my bottom lip slightly, aware a lot of the dream was true to life.
As the morning sunlight began peering around the edge of the long bedroom curtains pulled ajar, a pink glow flickered around the walls, casting a warm ambience upon the bed. Sitting on an old antique cabinet beside the bed, the radio played the BBC World Service theme music. The program had ended and it was time to greet another day.
The winter morning dawned, rosy-fingered clouds marbling the sky with soft shades of pink and blue littering the hills in the distance.
After breakfast I slid open the long door leading to the covered patio and gazed out over my relatively new garden.
I'd worked hard in completely renovating it after discovering the roots of two large fig trees had in the past, complete free range of the garden, wandering at will causing a lot of damage. The largest root was a monster, having entered under the concrete of a storage area behind the double garage. It had not only lifted a very thick, large section of concrete path several inches high, but caused the floor of storage area to crack badly for several meters. Hence the two trees were removed. Somehow I managed most of it myself and been busy since, after rearranging and enlarging the back border, planting it with new plants - many of them white-flowering. Several new cuttings have been included to one end to be grown on 'for future reference.'
It's been sheer pleasure watching everything grow on a daily basis. After breakfast I examine each and everyone for signs of new growth and been rewarded. A touch of blue was added in the form of Salvias. Most of the plants have thrived well into the winter season, being carefully chosen accordingly. At the peak of summer and beyond, they'll be expected to tolerate any extremities of heat. Lavenders are ideal for that. Hopefully everything else too.
Although winter has settled in, many birds were in full song. A quick, constant twittering echoed from a garden nearby and as I listened intently, was unable to identify it. It reminded me of the robins in English gardens.
The air was full with freshness, promising to be mild, even a little warm. The lady in the dream breathed deeply and returned to her stove-top in the kitchen, where several groups of seeds were drying out ready for planting.
She had been collecting seeds from many places over the years, even finding a few small, dried clumps in the odd garden center no one really wanted - needing to be dead-headed anyway. She was saving them the trouble. They might be scattered to the wind, so she found a good use for them - only a few and never took liberties. Some would be sown soon, others nearer springtime. She smiled knowingly to herself. This summer would be even better than previous ones. She never considered herself wicked, but rather resourceful and creative, watching new plants begin their life, helping, encouraging, feeding, watering with careful nurturing. The tiniest seeds would germinate, bursting forth from the soil into a dizzying number of shapes, exquisite designs, colours and perfumes.
This life cycle was a constant reminder of how beautiful the world around us is - to be enjoyed and appreciated, never ceasing to fascinate and being as a tiny drop in the ocean, the lady being involved in some small way, took pleasure in watching another cycle of life begin.
I'd worked hard in completely renovating it after discovering the roots of two large fig trees had in the past, complete free range of the garden, wandering at will causing a lot of damage. The largest root was a monster, having entered under the concrete of a storage area behind the double garage. It had not only lifted a very thick, large section of concrete path several inches high, but caused the floor of storage area to crack badly for several meters. Hence the two trees were removed. Somehow I managed most of it myself and been busy since, after rearranging and enlarging the back border, planting it with new plants - many of them white-flowering. Several new cuttings have been included to one end to be grown on 'for future reference.'
It's been sheer pleasure watching everything grow on a daily basis. After breakfast I examine each and everyone for signs of new growth and been rewarded. A touch of blue was added in the form of Salvias. Most of the plants have thrived well into the winter season, being carefully chosen accordingly. At the peak of summer and beyond, they'll be expected to tolerate any extremities of heat. Lavenders are ideal for that. Hopefully everything else too.
Although winter has settled in, many birds were in full song. A quick, constant twittering echoed from a garden nearby and as I listened intently, was unable to identify it. It reminded me of the robins in English gardens.
The air was full with freshness, promising to be mild, even a little warm. The lady in the dream breathed deeply and returned to her stove-top in the kitchen, where several groups of seeds were drying out ready for planting.
She had been collecting seeds from many places over the years, even finding a few small, dried clumps in the odd garden center no one really wanted - needing to be dead-headed anyway. She was saving them the trouble. They might be scattered to the wind, so she found a good use for them - only a few and never took liberties. Some would be sown soon, others nearer springtime. She smiled knowingly to herself. This summer would be even better than previous ones. She never considered herself wicked, but rather resourceful and creative, watching new plants begin their life, helping, encouraging, feeding, watering with careful nurturing. The tiniest seeds would germinate, bursting forth from the soil into a dizzying number of shapes, exquisite designs, colours and perfumes.
This life cycle was a constant reminder of how beautiful the world around us is - to be enjoyed and appreciated, never ceasing to fascinate and being as a tiny drop in the ocean, the lady being involved in some small way, took pleasure in watching another cycle of life begin.
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