story_roses_are_red_late_valentines_day_thingy

PreAmble --------

Why are roses so important, and what do white roses mean ?

Setting the Scene -----------------

There is an old house that stands just out Glamis. Its right beside the castle, and some folks whisper at night that its older than time. Most other people just agree that its older than the castle however.

Without doubt, its age shows. The building itself looks on first sight to be Tudor, but on further inspection, it has parts of it which are obviously medieval. The ramparts aren't as high as the castle. There is only one strangeness in its favor over the castle.

It still has tenants. Now, when we say tenants, we should probably classify that further. It has a woman of about 80 years old (some people would spitefully say she is the same age as the house) and she has no truck or congress with the outside world. It has never been very fair to her, and she sees no point at this stage in life to be kindly back.

The towns folk around glamis rarely see her, other than at the county fair. Farming folks hate her, and around these parts of the world, that accounts to about 99 percent of people. She blows in once every year, with her roses, and picks up the award for best of show. Always has done, probably always will. The roses are a deep, vibrant red, and she never sells them or gives them away.

In her eyes, she has taken a great deal of time to cultivate them, they are her one passion, her one prize in this world. To have them sold would cheapen their value. Of course, come valentines day, all the local lovers try valiantly to buy them from her, coddle them from her and when all else fails, steal them from her. They never get one, and have to settle for the sub standard selection in town.

With this in mind, lets introduce jack (name disguised to hide the innocent). He is not the worlds smartest boy, but he is liked by the local populace (if not the police). His dilemma this year however, is that his lady friend (for she is) Jill of some 4 years has had enough of jack and his errant ways.

You see, jack isn't very loyal. We have already established that he isn't the worlds brightest person, so getting caught is a regular past time with the poor boy. He has waited for the past two weeks for this day. He has a plan.

Now. Quiet. We can all guess that jacks plan is not a very good one. But here, we would all be wrong. Its actual quite smart. Jack has a dog that he will let loose in the front garden. Of course, the old lady will be hard pushed to catch it, giving jack ample time to grab the ill gotten rose and make a mad dash for it. If anything can mend a broken heart, its a lovers rose.

The Deed --------

Jack has his dog (grebo) all set. He remembers to take the name tag off from around his neck. Bless him, as its the only pit-bull in town. He lets the beast off the leash and points at the garden. 'Go' he whispers. The dog is well trained, and it runs off and starts to dig randomly, as if searching for a misplaced bone.

Right on cue, the old woman comes out. 'Get out of it.' and 'Shoo' are heard more than once, as are some more colorful expressions. Jack is surprised, but then remembers that this 'old dear' has lived longer than him (probably through two world wars he reckons) and she therefore has every right to question the dogs lineage.

Jack quickly darts behind the hedge wall and runs to the back garden. There he spots them, the roses, the prize. He forces him self through the hedge and looks in his pocket. The small secatuers are still there. He quickly darts over to the roses and cuts one off. He notices that on looking closely at it the rose doesn't have a uniform red color. There are dark patches in it.

Jack hears the women getting rid of the dog, he decides it is time he wasn't there. He looks around to the hedge, and finds that the hole he came through isn't there. There is no noticeable mark or dent at all. Thats good, that means the old lady wont notice that he has been there. He runs over and starts to clamber through the hedge.

On getting through the hedge, jack is faced with the garden. Jack looks a while, shakes his head, and decides that the thicket must have turned him around. He is right, so he goes through the hedge again. He once again is dumb struck when he sees the garden he just left.

Cursing, he decides to leave by the small gate leading to the front, what does it matter that the old lady sees him now, she cant stop him. Jack runs up to the gate and tries to open it. Strange, it wont open. It seems to shift under his hand. He looks around, desperate. It wont do to still be here when the police finally come (which will surely be called when the old lady discovers him).

He decides to go out the back of the garden. There is a large tree that he can climb, and then he can drop over the hedge wall. Jack runs down towards the tree. Whilst he is running he again jack is thinking to himself that the rose had best be worth it. He looks at the rose and sees it is once again shiny and a full red color. He smiles, its worth it. He is shining up the tree when the old lady comes out.

'Don't leave with that sonny, you'll be sorry. I mean it' Jack replies, telling the lady exactly where she can visit, and saying that hops over the bush below and runs off to his lady's house.

The Reunion (or you didn't think he would make it. for shame) ------------------------------------------------------------

Jack arrives. Feeling smug with himself, he slicks his hair back, and knocks on the door. He is greeted by the love of his life Jill. 'What do you want'. Not the ideal reception, still, better than none (or worse, a door in his face for his troubles).

Jack hands over the rose with a flourish. '*GASP*' says his lady friend. The kiss, briefly. Then 'that' look is exchanged between them. The one of reconciliation, and this is followed by a longer kiss and the shutting of the door with both parties inside the house.

Weeks pass. All is fine for Jack, not so for Jill. Jill is getting weaker and weaker. The doctors call it some strange name, but jack can guess what it is. He _has_ had two weeks to figure it out, and he thinks he has. Its the rose. Its, draining her. It sounds silly. Thats what he thinks however and will not be swayed by anyone.

There is only one course of action. He must talk to the women. He furtively sneaks out of the house, pausing only to kiss Jill on the way, and heads over to the old house.

Crunch Time -----------

The old woman's the door is open before jack knocks. 'Come in. I have been expecting you.'. In the background jack hears the whistle of a kettle. 'cup of tea love, expect you will need your strength'. At this the old woman laughs. He shuts the door and goes into what he presumes to be the lounge.

The little lady comes in with a cup of tea and gives it to him. 'Two sugars and milk. everyone takes that in tea'. Jack is amazed to find that he does indeed, take two sugars and milk. The old lady looks at him, closely, up and down. 'Must say, your looking well.' Jack notes the surprise in her voice (so pronounced is it).

'Look, its about that rose. Its. Its. Horrible. Evil', the old woman sighs at this,'No. Listen to me. Its hurting my girlfriend. Possibly killing her, what are you doing to her ?'.

The old lady smiles, 'That would explain dearie why your looking so healthy.', she pauses for a sip of tea before continuing,' I aren't doing anything to her. You did it when you stole my rose. To make things up, you must bring her here and the rose, but be sneaky my boy.'. Jack pushes for more answers and gets very angry when none are forthcoming. He leaves in a fit of rage.

The old lady smiles and rocks on her chair. 'he will be back'.

Jack is racked with doubt, what to do, what to do. He decides on an impulse to take Jill to the old woman. It cant do any harm. Only the old lady seems to know what's going on. Jack sneaks Jill out of the back window, she is almost unconscious at this stage, and slips the red rose into his pocket. He dashes over to the old house as if Jill's life depended on it.

Of Rose and Tears -----------------

Jack barrels in the door. 'Okay old lady, help her. help her NOW!' shouts Jack. 'Not so fast lovvie, we need to see how far its along, sit down while we check her over, sip the tea I made for you, relax'. The old woman looks up and down Jill, and draws out a small mallet which she taps just under her kneecaps. There is a slight twitch. Nothing more. 'How much do you love her ?' asks the woman.

'More than live itself', replies jack. The old woman smiles.

'You see, the roses need blood to survive, mostly I make do with stray dogs or cats. Birds long since stopped coming near our garden' (Jack vaguely recalls not hearing any sounds in the garden now),

'thats why we don't let them out or sell them on. They are dangerous despite their looks. When you stole one, it was the worst thing you could have done'(Jack suddenly feels severe pain in his legs),

'Do you want to be with her forever ?'(Yes mumbles jack). 'How much do you love her ?'(More than live itself replies Jack).

That was the last anyone ever saw of Jack and Jill. No one ever had enough courage to ask the old lady if she had seen them, and why would she have anyway ?. Certainly no one would have suspected that they both lay side by side in her rose bed.

That year in bloom, there were red roses, and there were white roses.

Fin ---

always, Steffffs (et gang)