The next Saturday, a bagpiper playing “Amazing Grace” led a small group into the Rose Garden. Missy wiped tears. Paul held Edna’s hand. Charly and Betty checked their pockets for tissues.
“Everyone who knew him was touched by the love he had for plants, especially roses and orchids. He shared his knowledge with anyone who asked him. I dedicate this brick. Hazel, do you have the brick? I dedicate this brick to Russ McGovern. On behalf of the Senior Gardener program, I want to award his family a certificate of appreciation for his contribution to the program. Are they here? We can mail it, I guess. Thank you,” said Stuart Black, Senior Gardener program instructor.
“Missy would like to say a word about Russ. Missy, if you would please,” Hazel said and stepped back.
“I would like to have the brick placed by the gazebo, so we can all think of him at our meetings,” Missy said.
She might have intended to keep talking, but she blew her nose and waved to the group to signal that she was too emotional to continue.
Behind her, Edna heard Charly whisper to Betty, “I can’t believe the loss of a human life just to rob the plant sale money.” Edna turned around.
“Charly, there was no robbery!”
“Did you two want to say something?” Black asked.
“No, sorry,” Edna and Charly said shaking their heads.
“Paul did you want to say something?” Hazel asked.
Paul blushed and recovered as if he had thought of something.
“Russ did what gardeners do best. They take care of plants so the plants can bring beauty to the world and touch the souls of people. Thanks, Russ.”
Missy blew her nose.
Black dismissed the group, but the Palm City Park gardeners stayed behind.
“See, dear, I told you it would work out OK,” Edna said to Paul.
The wrinkle that started in his forehead disappeared when he smiled and put his arm around her.
“I brought a change of clothes. As long as I’m here, I’ll check on the butterfly house,” said Missy.
“There might be a wedding today, so I’ll check the wedding gazebo area,” Charly said.
Edna and Charly looked at Betty who seemed sad and said nothing.
“Why don’t you work in the Peace Garden for a little while? Maybe it will help you forget about Jack,” Edna said.
“Don’t feel bad. Just be glad that you didn’t sleep with him,” Charly said.
Betty raised her eyebrows above her sunglasses.
“Betty, no!”
They all laughed.
“Everyone who knew him was touched by the love he had for plants, especially roses and orchids. He shared his knowledge with anyone who asked him. I dedicate this brick. Hazel, do you have the brick? I dedicate this brick to Russ McGovern. On behalf of the Senior Gardener program, I want to award his family a certificate of appreciation for his contribution to the program. Are they here? We can mail it, I guess. Thank you,” said Stuart Black, Senior Gardener program instructor.
“Missy would like to say a word about Russ. Missy, if you would please,” Hazel said and stepped back.
“I would like to have the brick placed by the gazebo, so we can all think of him at our meetings,” Missy said.
She might have intended to keep talking, but she blew her nose and waved to the group to signal that she was too emotional to continue.
Behind her, Edna heard Charly whisper to Betty, “I can’t believe the loss of a human life just to rob the plant sale money.” Edna turned around.
“Charly, there was no robbery!”
“Did you two want to say something?” Black asked.
“No, sorry,” Edna and Charly said shaking their heads.
“Paul did you want to say something?” Hazel asked.
Paul blushed and recovered as if he had thought of something.
“Russ did what gardeners do best. They take care of plants so the plants can bring beauty to the world and touch the souls of people. Thanks, Russ.”
Missy blew her nose.
Black dismissed the group, but the Palm City Park gardeners stayed behind.
“See, dear, I told you it would work out OK,” Edna said to Paul.
The wrinkle that started in his forehead disappeared when he smiled and put his arm around her.
“I brought a change of clothes. As long as I’m here, I’ll check on the butterfly house,” said Missy.
“There might be a wedding today, so I’ll check the wedding gazebo area,” Charly said.
Edna and Charly looked at Betty who seemed sad and said nothing.
“Why don’t you work in the Peace Garden for a little while? Maybe it will help you forget about Jack,” Edna said.
“Don’t feel bad. Just be glad that you didn’t sleep with him,” Charly said.
Betty raised her eyebrows above her sunglasses.
“Betty, no!”
They all laughed.
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