Flower Envy

A man receives a peculiar treasure that may lead to bad circumstances.

Jaden stood inside the market alley with a small plant selection before him. He stood at a kiosk. Chattering voices filled the air as bustling crowds weaved in and out.

“Fresh, fragrant plants for sale!” Jaden shouted.

A buyer approached Jaden holding a small satchel. “Hello sir!” said Jaden.

“I was wondering if we could do a non-money transaction.”

Jaden raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

The man took out of the satchel, a small flower that looked like a rose of glistening gold.

Jaden’s eyes widened. “What plant is that!”

“It’s called a cherubim Rose.”

“Where did you get it?”

“It was picked it from the Garden of Eden, the holy garden of God.” he whispered.

Jaden reeled back and glared through the side of his eye at the man. “Umm…I’m not religious.”

“Very well then. Just take it at face value-an indescribably stunning and beautiful flower that is quite rare.”

“What do you want in place of it?”

“Three daises and a tulip.”

“Deal!”

The two shook hands smiling. Then the man giving the flower suddenly frowned and stopped. “I warn you this holy creation of God could insight jealousy from other men. Keep it secret.”

“Of course,” said Jaden, flippantly with a roll of his eyes.

The man nodded and left.

Jaden packed up and went home with a broad smile and a skip in his step as he pulled a wooden cart on his way home.

He entered his small stone house and set his goods against a wall. He took his new treasure and placed it on a table in front of a burning hearth and stared at the flower for ten minutes.

A knock came from his door and he opened it to reveal a man in a fancy tunic.

“I already paid my taxes,” said Jaden.

“They just doubled.”

Jaden shook his head and left the doorway to get four gold coins.

“That is an amazing plant! I would pay to see it!” said the tax collector.

“Oh, thank you.” Jaden put the coins in the man’s hand.

“Good day.”

Jaden closed the door and returned to his prize. A thought came to him. “What if I really could sell for people to see it!” The warning of the man came to Jaden’s mind- I warn you this holy creation of God could insight jealousy from other men. I suggest you keep it secret. Jaden pushed the warning away with a wave of his hand.

He got a wide wooden slat and used red paint to write-“Behold the amazing Cherubim Rose!”

Jaden put the rose in a small box and took it and the slat the marketplace. He fastened the slat on a tall wooden stake and took the flower out of the box and held it in front of the sign.

It didn’t take long for people to take notice as a small crowd gathered. Then Jaden hid the flower in the box. “If you wish to see the amazing natural wonder, come to my house.”

Jaden approached his house as the crowd followed him. He entered and shut the door behind him.

Curious onlookers were curious of the those gathered before his house and soon a fourth of the entire city was there.

Jaden rubbed his hands together in giddiness. He exited his door and shut. “If you wish to see the reason why all have gathered here, it will cost one gold coin. I will let four people at a time to see it. Who is first?”

Many people shouted to be granted entrance.

“You four!” said Jaden, pointing to them. Each provided a gold coin and they were let inside.

Jaden placed the flower on the table.

After about three-dozen people later, he halted things.

“That is it for today!” said Jaden. “No more to see here!”

The crowd slowly dispersed and it was now near twilight and Jaden had lit a candle. He went to his small box where he had put all the money and shook it as the clinking metal sounded in his ears.

Jaden yawned and stretched before slipping into bed and blowing out the candle. In a vivid realistic dream, he was standing in front of his house. A shining man carrying two metallic stilts approached him. “You were told to keep it a secret.”

“Who are you?” asked Jaden.

“I am an angel of God. Be assured that you should be a dead man for your greed. But God has had mercy on you.”

Jaden trembled with glossy eyes. “What will happen?”

“The entire town has been driven to jealousy and will gather around your house. These stilts were forged in heaven by my own hand. The ends of them burn with fire, so none will take them from under you. Take the flower and use the stilts to go over the east wall out of the city. I have placed them on your roof.”

Jaden awoke to the pounding against his entire house with people shouting. His heart pounded as he took the flower and climbed a ladder that led to his roof and there were the stilts.

Jaden went to the edge and put the ends of the stilts where the crowd was. He shoved off walking on the stilts as people were seared from touching them.

Sweat ran down his temples as he breathed heavily keeping his balance. The crowd was mad with envy and Jaden went his way for twenty minutes until he neared the wall.

Jaden hopped off over the wall and fell into a pond. He took out the rose and cast it away in disgust. “I curse the day I found you!”

The man who gave Jaden the flower appeared before him. “You were warned. Come, I will show you a town where you can live out the rest of your life.”

Jaden scowled and was about to curse at the man, then he held his tongue. “Very well. Forgive me, sir.”