The Art Of Sending Flowers

h y d r a n g e a s

Hydrangeas - The flower of heartlessness and frigidity.

-

Elnora was in a good mood today. She was well rested and fed. She had no snappy customers till now. Although she had a faint feeling that a specific customer named Archer would make an appearance sooner or later. Call it gut feeling if you must, but she just knew.

She could even manage Tory's banters today. A good breakfast really worked wonders on Elnora.

At the moment, she was attending to a young teenage boy that couldn't possibly be any older than fourteen. He was extremely adorable in all his stammering and blushing glory. He kept on smelling every flower he passed, even sneezing at some of them.

Young love was truly beautiful.

"It's so hard to choose!" He exclaimed, frustrated. "They're all so pretty and I don't know which one she'll like." With his lip jutted out, he kicked at the floor. Elnora chuckled at the frustrated adolescent. "Well that's why I'm here, aren't I? To help you choose?"

"You'd do that?" The light that shone in his eyes could put decorated Christmas trees to shame. Elnora grinned at him. "Of course I would." She said, putting the boy out of his misery.

"Now tell me Romeo, what's she like?"

Elnora was sure that if he were to describe his dreams to someone, he'd do it with the same expression he had his face as right now.

"Sarah is just plain amazing. She thinks that no one notices her but I do. It's impossible not to." The youth couldn't contain the smile on his lips.

"She lets her hair down on Fridays and wears it up on the other days of the week. The color of her clothes vary with the season. It's like she's a flower herself. She rarely smiles but when she does, you'd never want to see anything else again."

It was days like this that made Elnora love her job. The sincerity of her customers, young or old, always warmed her heart. She found safety and solace in the way they battled with their thoughts and wondered if their loved ones would like the flowers or not. She felt safe because even though how corrupt, nefarious and selfish this generation was, there were still people who were genuine and pure hearted. There was still hope for love no matter how small.

"You're in luck today, buddy. I think I know what your dream girl might like." The boy punched an ecstatic fist in the air. "I totally owe you for helping me."

Tory, who happened to be passing by, stopped in her tracks and cooed at the boy. "Isn't he adorable?" She questioned her co-worker. Elnora nodded in reply. "How come you get all the cute ones?" Tory pouted. "You got the hottie yesterday and now this little cupcake."

Elnora chuckled at the red head. "It's called luck, Tor. And I thought you like old people?"

"Gee, thanks. You make it sound like I'm on a hunt for a sugar daddy."

"We have a child within hearing range you idiot!" Elnora said with an incredulous look on her face but deep within, she was trying hard not to laugh. Tory held her hands up in surrender and chuckled. She then went back to work. "Sorry for that." Elnora apologised to the boy. "What's your name if you dont mind me asking?"

"Roger." He beamed happily. After a while of small talk with Roger (he was indeed fourteen like she had predicted), Elnora faced the flowers in front of them. She knew exactly what to pick.

"Gardenias tell the receiver that they're lovely, so we'll be having some of those. Amaryllis, because she's more than just beautiful. And because she's fickle about colors, a few Larkspurs wouldn't hurt." Elnora looked at the combination of flowers. So far so good. But there were still some things that were missing. She tapped her index finger on her chin thoughtfully and hummed to herself.

"Aha!" She exclaimed excitedly. "Lilacs for first love and... Daffodils. Now these Daffodils represent you. They stand for chivalry. And I'll have you know that what you're doing is extremely chivalrous."

Roger looked like he was about to cry due to his happiness. The look on his face made Elnora the happiest she's been in weeks. But Rogers smile faltered when he glanced at the amount of flowers that were placed on the table. "They're going to cost a lot. I don't have enough money with me right now."

"That's not a problem. Because I do." Elnora gasped as Archer emerged from the shelves that held the ready made bouquets. "We can't woo Sarah with just a single flower now can we?"

"I love this shop." Roger said simultaneously while Elnora fired Archer with, "You were eavesdropping on us?"

"Pfft. No I wasn't. I was just secretly listening to the both of you talk."

"Archer."

"What?"

"That's literally the definition of eavesdropping."

"Surprise?" He added with a cheeky smile. She rolled her eyes at him. "You're early today."

He shrugged at her. "I've already choosen my flower, El." She narrowed her eyes at him. "Do not call me, El."

"Whatever you say, Nora."

She groaned at him. Both Archer and Roger were laughing at her obvious frustration. "I thought you were on my side." Elnora cried at Roger. Ugh. She thought. Boys.

"Which one?" She asked Archer in a bored tone. He pointed at the Hydrangeas and she pulled them out. Beneath her irritated façade, Elnora was happy. She was happy because despite his sourness towards flowers, Archer didn't spoil the significance of them for the younger boy. It was nice of him to pay for Roger.

After wrapping the flowers up, Elnora handed them their bouquets individually. Roger hugged Elnora and wished her goodbye. "You did well, Archer." She smiled at him.

"He deserved it." She nodded at his statement. "After all, young love needs to blossom." He said with a wink at the end of his sorry excuse of a joke.

"Please stop. I prefer your sarcasm over your puns. That was just plain embarassing."

Archer barked out a laugh and Elnora bit down hard on her lip so she wouldn't follow his actions. "What would you like on your note today?" She asked as she pulled out the cap of her fountain pen.

"Oh you know, the usual."

"Your notes are never usual."

"Touché."

Archer placed his elbows on top of the marble counter and ran a hand through his raven black hair. "Write down what I say, El."

"I will write it down only if you stop calling me El."

"Okay fine-"

"And Nora."

"Dammit."

After she was done writing the note and when Archer strode out of the flower shop, Elnora had a wide grin on her face. He really had his way with words.

On a negative note, Hydrangeas are the flower's of heartlessness and frigidity. Totes you if you were ever a flower, mate.