Lights up on DANDELION and her room. She is coloring on the floor. Her outfit has not changed. It is the next day.
DANDELION
(to herself)
Where is Feather?
(still coloring)
Feather!
(nothing)
Feather!
FEATHER, 18, bursts through the door with zest. FEATHER has been DANDELION'S best friend since they were little. She smiles at the sight of DANDELION and lays on her stomach next to her.
FEATHER
(kicking her feet back and forth)
You called?
DANDELION
Yeah. I got bored.
FEATHER
(beat)
What are you coloring?
DANDELION
A rose.
FEATHER
(looking over to the huge painting of a rose in the corner)
But you already have a rose.
DANDELION
I'm giving this one to daddy.
FEATHER
(sitting up on her knees)
I don't think he'll like that.
DANDELION
(stopping)
Why not?
FEATHER
(getting up, walking to the rose)
Well, because he named you Dandelion. Why would he want a picture of another flower?
DANDELION
(perplexed)
Because I drew it?
(telling herself mainly)
He loves my drawings.
FEATHER
I know. But you always say how a rose is the most beautiful flower and-
DANDELION
And it is.
(standing up, showing her drawing)
Look at it. It's much better than a dandelion.
FEATHER
Sweetie, I-
DANDELION
(melancholic)
I wish I was named Rose. Then I could really be the prettiest flower.
FEATHER
But that's my point. You're telling him that what he named you, the flower that he thinks is the best, isn't the best in your eyes. And he values your opinion over everything. That might hurt him.
DANDELION
(fidgeting her hands. she didn't think of it that way)
Oh. Well, I mean-
FEATHER
He loves you more than anything in the world. Why would you tell him that his name for you is wrong because you don't think it's perfect?
DANDELION
(ashamed)
I don't know.
FEATHER
Don't give it to him.
(she take the paper and crumbles it)
It'll only be bad.
DANDELION
(nodding her head in silence, looking up at the little window, beat)
Feather, you go outside all the time.
FEATHER
(picking up a book, turning it in her hands)
Yes indeed.
DANDELION
I've known you since we were toddlers. We grew up together.
FEATHER
(turning to her, not sure where this is going)
Yes? We've been best friends since day one.
DANDELION
We tell each other everything.
FEATHER
Dandelion?
DANDELION
We should always do that.
FEATHER
I'm not sure what-
DANDELION
(finally facing her)
Why don't you talk about outside?
YOU ARE READING
Garden Of Weeds
Short StoryDandelion has never left her room. Her father wants to protect her from the monsters outside. Feather tells her the world is beautiful. Window tells her the world is ugly. Dandelion wants to see for herself.
