The Secret of Flowers
Anna worked with her mother in their vegetable garden every day. This was how they made their living. Anna helped her mother tend the garden, so the vegetables would be healthy and ready for the market. Anna often pretended the plants she tended were beautiful roses, like Mrs. Brown's prize flowers.
The only person in the village who made money selling flowers was Mrs. Brown. She grew roses and sold them to flower shops in the city. Every year she joined the City Rose Festival. People thought that Mrs. Brown used magic to grow her roses. How else could she win first prize twenty years in a row?
Anna loved to tend flowers. Moreover, she often dreamed about growing her own roses and winning first prize in the festival. With the prize money, she would also be able to lighten the burden at home. However, roses were too expensive for her to start.
One day, Anna visited Mrs. Brown to see her flowers. Mrs. Brown was whispering to her roses when she arrived. "Spying on me again!" Mrs. Brown frowned.
"I only came to see your flowers, Mrs. Brown." Anna took a deep breath. "I wish I could grow beautiful roses and win a prize at the festival like you."
"I have experience passed down from generations." Mrs. Brown laughed. "Stick to vegetables, child. Leave flowers to those who know the secret of flowers."
Mrs. Brown returned to her gardening, ignoring the sad look on Anna's face. Then she pulled up a dried-up rose, and threw it over the fence. "A plant in bad condition. Unworthy of my time," Mrs. Brown mumbled.
Anna smiled, as she had an idea. She bowed farewell to Mrs. Brown and went out the garden gate. Mrs. Brown was busy minding her prize roses. Anna quickly bent over and grabbed the abandoned rose before rushing home. She remembered a quiet spot behind the cottage. It was the perfect place for her little rose to grow. Now, she had a chance for the festival.
Anna planted the rose in her garden and tended it carefully.
On festival morning, Mrs. Brown passed by and saw the beautiful rose.
