The Gardener

As a child, Louise couldn't tolerate the feeling of dirt under her fingernails.

After trying for many years to get her daughter's help with the weeding, Louise's mother finally gave up. "Who cared if the grasses were taller than the irises? I could still see their flowers and that's all that mattered," said the impertinent youth.

Years later on the Saturday before Mother's Day, she thought she might attempt redemption. Outside a little old lady's house Louise bought two big clumps of Forget Me Nots, a flower so endearing she thought her mother might be charmed and never forget her. It was a bold step to attempt to appease mom with simple flowers. To this day as her mother is pulling out the spent Forget Me Nots, she playfully curses under her breath.

Louise's fingernails are cut very short now.