Friendship

Rose learns a lesson in friendship

Rose

Rose is a very special Apple Gall being. She was in fact the very first Apple Gall being. She was created with the essences collected from a ladybug, a monarch butterfly, a Queens oak gall wasp, roses, oak, liquid amber and rambutan. Rose was born into this world as a tall Apple Gall being, having rose bud hair, oak limbs, rambutan feet and liquid amber hands.

Rose Starts to Draw

Each and every day Rose woke up very excited. She loved life from the first moment she ever opened her eyes. Yet this day was different, it held just a little bit more excitement.

Several months before, Rose came upon her friend Potpourri who had been painting a beautiful landscape on canvas. Painting on a canvas was something Rose had never seen before. Rose having been the first Apple Gall being ever created, loved creating many different things herself. Seeing Potpourri painting was very appealing to her. She knew in her heart that she also wanted to learn how to paint.

Once deciding she wanted to paint, Rose began making a plan. Plans were usually the best start of any idea. Since she knew absolutely nothing about painting, she decided that step one of her plan would be to educate herself on the subject. She began making inquiries about painting, and what exactly was involved? From these inquiries she found painting was not going to be as easy as she imagined. There were so many forms of painting, and so many different mediums available. At first it all seemed a little overwhelming, but she was not one to ever give up on anything she set her mind to, and continued on with her inquiries.

Once she belt fairly educated on the topic, she decided the second step was to pick a medium she liked, and begin experimenting with it. The one which most appealed to her was charcoal pencil. It really wasn't painting, but this did turn out to be her favorite. She began sketching pictures of her friends, along with all of the beauty around her, and in her eyes, everything was beautiful.

In the beginning, as she looked over her sketches, it seemed to her they were not very good. Fortunately this did not stop her. If anything, it only made her even more determined to succeed. She really believed in the old saying, 'Practice Makes Perfect', and soon, it seemed to her the more she drew, the better her drawings began to look, and the easier it became.

After Rose had drawn quite a few pictures she had a thought maybe she would try and get an honest experienced opinion of her drawings. Potpourri's beautiful paintings came to mind, and Potpourri was one whose art was well known, and admired, throughout the entire community. Rose knew in her heart, this is who would be the best being to ask for a review of her sketches. She wanted to know if her work was as good as she thought it was. If not, maybe Potpourri might have suggestions on how Rose could improve. And so she gathered what she thought were some of her best works and went to visit Potpourri.

Potpourri was delighted to see Rose and her drawings. Rose watched Potpourris' expressions while Potpourri looked over her pieces. Had Rose imagined seeing an excitement in Potpourri's eyes? At least that's what she thought she saw, or was this just wishful thinking on Rose's part? After perusing through a few of the drawings, Potpourri asked if Rose wouldn't mind leaving them, saying more time was needed to really look at them before giving a review. Rose could barely contain her excitement and agreed to leave them, for Potpourri's opinion was very important to her, and she couldn't wait to hear what it was going to be.

Getting Ready and The Flight

Meeting up with Potpourri two weeks after leaving her sketches, and still having not heard anything, she decided to ask.
"Well Potpourri, what did you think of my sketches?"
Potpourri's reply was something to the affect of, “Oh, yes. I've been so busy, and I haven't had a chance to look them over. Would it be alright if I let you know in maybe a week, or so, what I think about them”.

Well, today was a week since that day. Rose assumed that since, she, Potpourri, and some other friends, who were also Apple Gall beings, were to meet up at Blue Lake, that this would be the time when Potpourri would give Rose her answer. A perfect day of fun and swimming at Blue Lake, located on the outskirts of the Old Forrest where they all lived, and very popular with the entire Apple Gall community.

Inside of Rose's home, which was an old hallowed oak tree, she was getting ready for the big day. There was a tap on her door and when she opened it, there stood Petals. Petals her very best friend, and who was also the second Apple Gall being ever created.

Before Petals could say hello, Rose immediately began in a rush tone, “Oh Petals, I'm so excited. Today I get to hear what Potpourri thought of my sketches. I don't mind saying that I'm also worried, what if Potpourri didn't like them? I think I'm good, but am I really? What if I've been fooling myself?”, were Rose's first words to Petals.

This was all news to Petals, who usually knew all that was going on in the community, and especially with Rose. “Really? I didn't know you had asked Potpourri to look at your sketches. When did you ask?”, questioned Petals.

“It's been awhile back, but last week I went to see Potpourri, and I asked about them. Potpourri said I would find out in a week, and well, today is a week.”, replied Rose.

“Hum, I saw Potpourri yesterday and nothing was mentioned about your drawings, only about meeting with everyone at Blue lake. Are you sure this is supposed to happen today?”, asked Petals.

“Yes, I'm sure. It has to be, Potpourri wouldn't make me wait any longer, right?”, asked Rose.

Petals thought for a moment, Rose really was excited, and Petals didn't want to see her upset. Yet Petals knew Rose would sometimes forgot to be specific when asking questions about different things, or when she wanted something done a certain way. Maybe this time was different.

“OK then, let's head to the lake, I think everyone is probably already there.”, said Petals. One of the best parts of going on trips with Petals was that Petals could fly, and flying was always a treat because every flight became an adventure. It would never be just a direct flight to the destination. No, Petals loved to make detours by flying in and out of trees, or sometimes fly way up high and then straight down, getting real close to the ground, and then zipping up again. It was always something Rose looked forward too.

This trip was no different. Petals decided to buzz their friends the wild horses who roamed the nearby mountains. Petals watched the herd running across the open fields with Zeus, the lead stallion, at the head. Rose held tight to Petals hand as they zoomed just above the horses. Both of them, as well as the horses, could not stop laughing. Zeus, called out to Petals, "Set Rose on my back", which Petals did. Zeus ran all throughout the hills while Rose held onto his mane. "Yahhoooo" could be heard throughout the fields, mountains, and valleys. When he finally come to a stop, Rose hugged Zeus' neck and thanked him for such a wonderful gift. Petals swooped down, grabbed Rose's hand again, and off to the lake they went.

At At The Lake, Rose Learns an Important Lesson

Petals and Rose finally arrived at the lake, and it seemed Petals might have been right, the entire Apple Gall community was there. Being such a hot day, it was the first place everyone went to cool down.

One and all watched as Petals, holding Rose's hand, flew in. There was lots of waving and calling out of greetings. Petals spotted Jewel and Potpourri at their favorite spot, and flew directly towards them.

“Wow, that was a great entrance!”, exclaimed Potpourri while walking over to greet the pair.

“Thanks, I hope you didn't have to wait very long for us?”, asked Petals.

“No, no, we just got here about 15 minutes ago and were just setting everything up.”, answered Jewels while walking beside Potpourri.

After the salutations and hugs, they all walked over to their spot. There were blankets, towels, and various food items spread on their designated spot. There was still only one thing on Rose's mind, and all she wanted to do was immediately ask Potpourri, “So what did you think?”. Fortunately, she held here question and decided to let Potpourri bring it up. She did not want seem pushy after all.

While settling in, laying on their towels, and enjoying the sun, various friends would stop by to say hello. It was always a great time at the beach. Visiting with friends, especially those they hadn't seen in awhile, always gave an opportunity to catch up on the latest news and events. It didn't take long before the weather became much warmer, and they all decided to cool down by going for a swim. Well all except Jewel, who was not one for swimming.

“If you all don't mind, I'll just sit here and snack on some of these goodies?”, said Jewel in her lovely Southern drawl.

Everyone nodded and ran to the water. As they were leaving, Rose turned to Petals and said, “Petals, you know Potpourri has not said one word about my sketches, do you think Potpourri just didn't like them and doesn't know how to tell me?”.

Petals could see that Rose might be letting her imagination run away again, and sometimes, that wasn't a good thing. Remembering Rose had, more often than not, a way of leaning towards the worse scenario of things, rather the best.

“I don't think that at all Rose. You have to remember, Potpourri is usually really busy. Maybe there hasn't been time to look at your sketches.”, replied Petals.

“Oh, I guess you're right. Maybe I should not have asked Potpourri, or maybe I should have asked someone else? I really don't want to be a bother. But I thought because we are good friends, and I would never turn away any of my friends if they asked a favor like this of me, I thought Potpourri would feel the same. Maybe I'm not as good of a friend to Potpourri as I thought I was.”, said Rose.

Petals could hear Rose doubting herself, and a friend. This had happened once before, and Rose had felt terrible for thinking those thoughts. No one liked thinking negative thoughts, especially about a friend. This was doubly true for Rose.

“Rose you know Potpourri looks at you as a very dear friend, as we all do, right? Tell me, did you actually hear Potpourri say that today was the day you'd hear the review or was it something in general, like 'maybe in a week the review would be ready'?”, asked Petals.

Rose looked at Petals, and realized she was letting all kinds of unfounded thoughts and emotions run through her mind again. Some of these thought weren't very nice. She was not only doubting herself, but also a dear friend. This made her feel like such a bad being, which she really didn't think she was.

“Well, now you put it that way, yes, I think there might have been a maybe in there. I just assumed it was a 'for sure' because it's been so long. I don't understand Petals, why has it taken so long?”, asked Rose.

“Rose, did you ask for a specific time when you wanted the review by? Also, did you tell Potpourri how important this is to you?” asked Petals.

“Well, no, I guess I didn't. I just said, 'when you have time can you look at these', and handed them over to Potpourri. I didn't say anything about how important it is to me, I just assumed Potpourri would know.”, said Rose while lowering, and shaking her head.

“Rose, why would Potpourri know how important it is to you unless you said so. Potpourri cannot read your mind, no one can. Do you think you might have said something like, 'This is really important to me', and 'if you don't mind, I really would like to have these back in a couple of weeks, if that's alright?' What do you think?”, asked Petals.

Rose again thought for a moment and realized Petals was right. She had not been very clear on what she would have liked from Potpourri, and she was doing a lot of assuming. She thought, 'Boy I really need to work on my communication skills”. 'Speak clearly of what I would like. Don't assume' that's how it will be done, and how I think things should be without letting the other person know.

“Oh Petals, you are absolutely right, as always. I really haven't been fare, have I? I can't expect others to read my mind, and then start assuming all kinds of things when they aren't responding like I think they should. It's not realistic, or fare. In the future, I really need to be more clear, and say what I'm thinking, or what I would like. My dear friend, I feel so ashamed of myself. Potpourri is my friend and I was thinking not very good thoughts. I didn't trust our friendship. I was also taking a lot for granted, wasn't I? I'm going to invite Potpourri over after the swim today and apologize, as well as, say all of what I should have said to Potpourri in the first place.”, said Rose.

“That sounds like an excellent idea, and Rose, I hope you know that you are not the only one who this has happened to. I, as well as many others, have done the same thing at one time or another. We forget to ask or say something, or mention what we would like, and need of others. When we don't, then sometimes what could happen is we let our mind start thinking all kinds of things that are not true. This most often happens when things don't turn out how we think they should. It's very easy to do, right? When this happens to me, I try to remember, 'this is my friend', and if I am ever in doubt about something, then all I have to do is talk to them, because to me, that is what friendship is about. We would always want our friends to think the same of Us, right?”, said Petals.

“Petals, you are such a wise being, and I am so glad you are my friend.”, said Rose.

They both hugged and spent the remainder of the afternoon enjoying a great day surrounded by their many friends.