If I Have To

For My Princess

New York, New York
April 6th

Kasey L.

"Mr. Langston! I didn't think I'd see you again!" Mr. Woodson shouted as soon as he turned to face me.

He gave me a smile and I returned one. As I walked to the counter, I looked around the once beautiful and alive garden store. I remembered seeing all the bloomed flowers on display and ready to be bought. Customers flooded the place to smell the plants, looking for seeds and soil of their own. Now when I enter this store, it was dead and quiet. No customers. No blooming flowers. The scent of pine was still there though.

"You see the damage of the government, huh?" Mr. Woodson questioned then chuckled. His humor was still here too.

"How are you doing, Mr. Woodson?" I asked, shoving my hands in my pockets.

"I'm still alive so I'm doing fine. I could be better though," he replied. I nodded, knowing where he was coming from.

Ray Woodson was a friend of mine. He owned one of the most popular flower shop in Greenwich Village, a half-an-hour from my place. I wasn't much of a plant individual, however, Mr. Woodson was a friendly person. He also so happened to have his store right next to my favorite coffee shop, Metro Macchiato. Whenever I came to get coffee, I would also step into his store and say hi. Today, I was stepping in to make a deal. One that'll help out the both of us real well.

"That's understandable." I looked around the store again. It always upset me when a good person is wronged for no reason. That was Mr. Woodson's store.

As of last year, Mr. Woodson's flower shop went through one hell of a change. He was granted a loan from the SBA to help open his shop. However, the bank he received the money from ended up being tied to fraud and had to close. All loaners, including Mr. Woodson, were ordered to either pay back the money in full or go to jail. Mr. Woodson was an older man, in his sixties, so jail time was not doable for him.

He decided to pay back the money and that meant selling his business along with other greenhouses he had bought. It was saddening to hear when his shop was truly a family spot in New York. Everyone came in here, whether plant lovers or not, just to see Mr. Woodson himself. He was the guy everyone went to. His flowers were even apart of a garden parade that was held a couple years ago. He was well loved by everyone, so it was unfortunate that he had to sell his business.

But it didn't take long for these rich snobby investors to come in and offer money. I'm not sure if he had sold anything to anyone yet, which is why I was here today. I wasn't like these other rich dudes who was trying to build more luxury apartments, banks, bars, and other unnecessary buildings that we don't need out here. I was here to make another person more happier with life. Xena.

I waited to do any huge gift giving because I wanted her to settle in at first. Before our trip, I wasn't sure what to get her. I gave her a necklace after our wedding and that was it. After our trip, I realized that it wasn't jewelry she wanted. It wasn't clothes either, even though she liked both. Xena wanted the things that other women didn't want or even thought of. She wanted her dreams to come true, so I listened and watched her closely.

I noticed the videos she watched of gardening and discussions of plants. I noticed her searching up shelters close by and volunteer work. I picked up the way she started to be more gentle when it came to my dogs, especially Royal who was going to pass soon. I remembered her speaking about wanting to help pregnant teens and that was coming too. I was doing silent moves, finding a home, and talking to the right people.