Part 3:
“I love this!” Gen said. “I get to be here for one of your weird things, but no danger or risk."
“You like 'em?" I asked.
“This more than makes up for the bus garage.”
“Do not think/There is no risk for you/Friend of Rick Hatcher.”
Her eyes rolled Rick’s way.
“Is this a joke?”
“Why do you say there is risk for Genevieve?” Rick asked.
“Not just for her/But Dale, Josie and you/Each must face events now come due.”
The room went silent.
“Are you telling us … you can see the future?”
“Some moments murky/Some moments clear/We sing as the visions appear.”
“You like 'em?" I asked.
“This more than makes up for the bus garage.”
“Do not think/There is no risk for you/Friend of Rick Hatcher.”
Her eyes rolled Rick’s way.
“Is this a joke?”
“Why do you say there is risk for Genevieve?” Rick asked.
“Not just for her/But Dale, Josie and you/Each must face events now come due.”
The room went silent.
“Are you telling us … you can see the future?”
“Some moments murky/Some moments clear/We sing as the visions appear.”
They began flapping their leaves, bobbing like back-up singers at a wild concert!
Then the trio calmed down and addressed us one by one.
The first warning went to Genevieve.
They again called her ‘Friend of Rick Hatcher’ and sang: “Be clear in choices/And also in fights/Each could bring doom or delight.”
She flashed a satisfied smile.
“You see? You see? Now that’s a fortune.”
“You’re not worried?”
“Nah,” Gen shrugged. “I just wish they knew my name. ‘Friend of Rick Hatcher?’ Really?”
“They must know who I am,” Dale said. “Do you orange plants have anything to tell me?”
“Take heed of past struggles/And trifles forgotten/Make sure you take proper precautions.”
“Forgotten trifles?” Dale frowned. “Why can’t these be happy?”
Then the trio calmed down and addressed us one by one.
The first warning went to Genevieve.
They again called her ‘Friend of Rick Hatcher’ and sang: “Be clear in choices/And also in fights/Each could bring doom or delight.”
She flashed a satisfied smile.
“You see? You see? Now that’s a fortune.”
“You’re not worried?”
“Nah,” Gen shrugged. “I just wish they knew my name. ‘Friend of Rick Hatcher?’ Really?”
“They must know who I am,” Dale said. “Do you orange plants have anything to tell me?”
“Take heed of past struggles/And trifles forgotten/Make sure you take proper precautions.”
“Forgotten trifles?” Dale frowned. “Why can’t these be happy?”
“I guess it is what it is,” I said. “Let’s see what they have for me."
“A prior sting lurks/To break up life’s stride/Beware daggers that stab from inside.”
“Daggers? I guess we get the gist of these predictions, don’t we?”
Lastly, to Rick they sang, “Sacrifice waits beyond this eve’s door/And foes and battles/And changes galore.”
Our jaws didn’t just drop; they smashed holes through the floor.
“Sacrifice?" Dale asked. “Can you be more specific?”
They did not respond to the request.
“Really, any details, any suggestions, you know, that would really be helpful. OK?”
“Two more hours of lamp light/Each day would be nice/To build up our burgeoning height.”
“Plant tips? Is that a joke? Cray would never have done this, he would have told me.”
“Dale, don’t be like that.”
“Rick, they’re not helping us, why aren’t they helping?”
“This might be new to them. I don't know how this works.”
“Chlorophyll oracles,” Gen mused. “Maybe that’s what my life's been missing.”
“A prior sting lurks/To break up life’s stride/Beware daggers that stab from inside.”
“Daggers? I guess we get the gist of these predictions, don’t we?”
Lastly, to Rick they sang, “Sacrifice waits beyond this eve’s door/And foes and battles/And changes galore.”
Our jaws didn’t just drop; they smashed holes through the floor.
“Sacrifice?" Dale asked. “Can you be more specific?”
They did not respond to the request.
“Really, any details, any suggestions, you know, that would really be helpful. OK?”
“Two more hours of lamp light/Each day would be nice/To build up our burgeoning height.”
“Plant tips? Is that a joke? Cray would never have done this, he would have told me.”
“Dale, don’t be like that.”
“Rick, they’re not helping us, why aren’t they helping?”
“This might be new to them. I don't know how this works.”
“Chlorophyll oracles,” Gen mused. “Maybe that’s what my life's been missing.”
“You aren't worried at all?” I asked Rick.
“I’m not overjoyed. I was about to share my news.”
“That’s right! Your big news! The plants got us sidetracked."
“Let’s hold off. It’s no big deal. Maybe some other time.”
“Are you serious? First you keep it a secret, now we have to wait?”
“The moment has passed.”
“Big brother. Tell us now, or Dale will blink your underwear drawer to the middle of Main Street.”
The lion beamed a Cheshire grin.
“Well, ever since Grandpa's thing. His bad driving. I've thought about older people. Transportation."
“Transportation?"
“People need help getting around. People like Grandpa. And, so, maybe I'll start a shuttle service."
“Really?"
“I'll need a special license. And I’d start small, one van. I’ve got a business plan. Talked with some banks. I think it could work.”
Dale’s face scrunched all serious.
“Can I get my own chair? I could be, like, security.”
“It’s still just an idea. But yes, you can have your own seat.”
“Are you quitting your store?” Genevieve asked.
“I’m not changing anything right now. Work nights and weekends at the store. Drive during the day.”
“Awesome, bro. Go for it. Orange plants, what do you think?”
“No way,” Rick said. “This topic is off-limits. Can you plants control your predictions?”
“We do not control sight/But can control song/On this we’ll be silent all along.”
“I’m not overjoyed. I was about to share my news.”
“That’s right! Your big news! The plants got us sidetracked."
“Let’s hold off. It’s no big deal. Maybe some other time.”
“Are you serious? First you keep it a secret, now we have to wait?”
“The moment has passed.”
“Big brother. Tell us now, or Dale will blink your underwear drawer to the middle of Main Street.”
The lion beamed a Cheshire grin.
“Well, ever since Grandpa's thing. His bad driving. I've thought about older people. Transportation."
“Transportation?"
“People need help getting around. People like Grandpa. And, so, maybe I'll start a shuttle service."
“Really?"
“I'll need a special license. And I’d start small, one van. I’ve got a business plan. Talked with some banks. I think it could work.”
Dale’s face scrunched all serious.
“Can I get my own chair? I could be, like, security.”
“It’s still just an idea. But yes, you can have your own seat.”
“Are you quitting your store?” Genevieve asked.
“I’m not changing anything right now. Work nights and weekends at the store. Drive during the day.”
“Awesome, bro. Go for it. Orange plants, what do you think?”
“No way,” Rick said. “This topic is off-limits. Can you plants control your predictions?”
“We do not control sight/But can control song/On this we’ll be silent all along.”
“We still have another option,” Gen said, holding up the Happy Seasons bag. “One cookie left.”
She cracked open the shell and unleashed a laugh.
“What does it say?” Dale asked.
“You’re not gonna believe it.”
“What?” I wondered.
“Every day … is an oasis … in the desert of life.”
“Wow. Maybe someone is trying to tell us something.”
“They’re telling us that Happy Seasons needs new copywriters. And that next time, yeah, we’ll call Speedy Burrito instead."
Dale nodded in agreement.
“Etch it in stone, that’s our future: Speedy Burrito.”
“If you say so,” I laughed. “Sam, Gardner, Bit, what do you think?”
They were quiet for a long while, until I almost didn’t think they were going to answer.
“Oasis, desert, moon, sky/We see not all with our minds’ eye/And never know the reasons why.”
She cracked open the shell and unleashed a laugh.
“What does it say?” Dale asked.
“You’re not gonna believe it.”
“What?” I wondered.
“Every day … is an oasis … in the desert of life.”
“Wow. Maybe someone is trying to tell us something.”
“They’re telling us that Happy Seasons needs new copywriters. And that next time, yeah, we’ll call Speedy Burrito instead."
Dale nodded in agreement.
“Etch it in stone, that’s our future: Speedy Burrito.”
“If you say so,” I laughed. “Sam, Gardner, Bit, what do you think?”
They were quiet for a long while, until I almost didn’t think they were going to answer.
“Oasis, desert, moon, sky/We see not all with our minds’ eye/And never know the reasons why.”
“You know, of everything you’ve told us? That’s the most comforting, somehow,” Rick said.
They flapped their leaves softly, gently bowing their tiny stalks.
“Uh, you gonna eat that cookie?” Dale asked. “I’ll take half.”
Genevieve flipped a piece in the air and he caught it with ease.
“Thanks!”
We finished our food and opened the windows even wider, inviting the full breadth of the wind.
Napkins flapped and menus danced.
The orange plants said nothing more.
No new predictions blew in on the currents.
We talked until the hour grew late, finally bidding farewell to the evening, each of us wondering just what the future might hold.
They flapped their leaves softly, gently bowing their tiny stalks.
“Uh, you gonna eat that cookie?” Dale asked. “I’ll take half.”
Genevieve flipped a piece in the air and he caught it with ease.
“Thanks!”
We finished our food and opened the windows even wider, inviting the full breadth of the wind.
Napkins flapped and menus danced.
The orange plants said nothing more.
No new predictions blew in on the currents.
We talked until the hour grew late, finally bidding farewell to the evening, each of us wondering just what the future might hold.