Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Fearful (08/23/07)
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TITLE: Dandelion for a King | Previous Challenge Entry
By matthew buchanan
08/24/07 -
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ADD TO MY FAVORITES
show their love and appreciation. We all sought a smile from the king, a pat on
the back, or the jackpot: a smile and a pat on the back. It'd bring with it
bragging rights for the rest of the year. "I know he liked my flower best--he
patted me on the back. What happened with yours?" Our elementary teachers
dreaded the competition it caused, but enjoyed the fact that at least this time
the kids were competing in something somewhat healthy.
So I stood backstage, ten years old, a dandelion stem in my hand.
"You call that a flower?" Bobby Bigmouth sneered. "That's not fit for the weed
pile." Others joined in the jeering.
As I glanced at the beautiful flowers held by the well-dressed children around
me, I could feel my courage melting faster than ice cream on a desert summer
sidewalk. A perfect pink rose plucked at the pinnacle of its beauty ridiculed
me. A perfect daisy preened and primped in its owners' proud fingers. Everyone
had picked a more beautiful flower than had I. Even Snelly, the kid who had
failed fourth grade five times. His tulip taunted me.
As the music ushered us in to meet the king, I hid in the back of the line and
cried. What had I been thnking?
I loved dandelions. Their miniature explosions always fascinated me. I fancied
that dandelions were the most selfless of the flowers. Unlike the rose who
carefully guarded its beauty with nasty thorns, the dandelion seemed intent on
sharing: at the slightest puff of wind or the quickest shake of the stem, with a
poof the dandelion shared itself with the wind.
But at the moment, I hated my dandelion--or what was left of it. As I held the
green stem in my hand and shuffled, sniffling, down the royal red carpet
toward the king, a scene from Alice in Wonderland flashed in my mind. "Off
with his head!" assaulted my overactive imagination. Condemnation and
chastisement and Despair took turns punching me in the gut until I could barely
breathe.
It was my turn.
I stood in front of the King, trembling.
His feet bedecked with red roses, golden poppies, and more species of violets
than could be named.
How could he have any room for my dandelion stem?
I bowed, trembling, and laid my dandelion stem at his feet. I then waited for
the thundering disapproval about the unworthiness of my gift.
It seemed an eternity before he spoke.
"That's the first dandelion I've ever seen!" he said. His voice was like a cello.
Soon I was enveloped in a bear hug that I can still feel on lonely days as I go
about the mundane busyness that sometimes passes for "real life."
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Beautifully, vividly written. Great use of alliteration: I loved "preened and primped" and "tulip taunted." Wonderful descriptions as well--my favorite is the dandelions as "miniature explosions."
Great message, too-I really enjoyed the analogy of dandelions and sharing.
Great job!