by Ronnie Reese

Created on: September 08, 2009   Last Updated: September 10, 2009

A Tiny Bit of Green

As I picked up a small pepper plant at the store, my wife noticed a tiny bit of green nestled on top of the dirt. I reached into the pot to see what it was and found it was only a trimming that had fallen from one of the plants on the higher shelves. I was about to flick it out of the pot when my wife interjected on its behalf.

"Don't throw that away!" she exclaimed as if I was about to dispose of costly jewels or expensive fabric.

"Why not?" I queried.

"It's a beautiful flower," she replied.

I looked at the crumpled leaf which had scarcely a stem attached. It looked like someone had gotten a little carried away with the hedge trimmers at the greenhouse and this was one of the casualties.

Upon inspecting the casualty closer I noticed that not only was this leaf crumpled, but it had been nearly severed in two as well. On top of that it was somewhat withered from lack of water.

"Be careful with it," my wife implored.

I looked at the leaf. I looked at my wife. I looked at the leaf again and then at my wife's pleading eyes.

Carefully, I placed the tiny leaf back down on top of the dirt in the pot beside the pepper plant as I made my way to the checkout. When I paid the clerk my wife confessed that we had found an orphan plant that needed some TLC. The lady assured her it was all right for us to take the dried leaf home with us.

Once we arrived at home my wife encouraged me to stick the wilted leaf in a bottle of water. I looked beneath the sink at the various vases stored there. None of them appeared to be quite the right size for a withered leaf. Finally, I found an old salt shaker and gave the leaf a new home. My wife's approving glance let me know that she wholeheartedly endorsed the vessel I had chosen. Skeptically, I filled the tiny container with water and set it on the counter by the sink in front of the kitchen window.

For several days I would glance at the bit of green in the salt shaker. But not once did I notice any change. Then it was time for us to go on vacation. Respectfully, I filled the makeshift flowerpot with water one more time because it would be several days before the leaf had another drink.

Resurrection

Upon returning from vacation I pondered taking up my duties once again as leaf caretaker. We husbands certainly are called upon to do some rather bizarre antics during our married itinerary. However, this latest adventure seemed to be a little stranger than several of the other peculiar escapades I had been a part of in

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