At 30

Day 2: Grow, Then Die

Chapter Two

My sister, Mandy, came to visit today. Should I tell my family that I'm dying in a month? She's bringing her kids over. Maybe not today. I mean, even if I did tell my family, what are they going to do? They aren't doctors. How am I supposed to console them when they react badly when I think I haven't wrap this whole situation around my own head?

"Open the door, Auntie Eve!"

Wow, two kids screaming at your door is really loud.

"Hey, Callie! Hey, Newton! How's my favourite niece and nephew?"

"We are so ready for gardening day!"

"I'm so sorry" my sister mouthed silently.

Oh, right. Gardening day. When my siblings and I were younger, we often plant mung beans in little plastic containers. We would sing to it and decorate the 'pot' of the plant. We called it gardening day. I guess the thing to do today is gardening day.

It's really simple. All you need is one mung bean, a few pieces of tissue paper, one plastic container, water and lots of love. Let me break it down into steps.

Step one:

Fold some tissue papers and fit them neatly at the bottom of the container. Ensure that the layer covers the bottom of the container completely and is thick enough for the roots to grow.

Step two:

Place the mung bean at the top.

Step three:

Water it. With love, I guess.

Wow, it's simpler and shorter than what I expected.

My siblings and I used to do this and it is sort of a family tradition within us. I guess Mandy wants to pass this down to Callie and Newton. I end up doing one with them too. I found stickers at the bottom of my cabinet and we used it to decorate our 'pots'. It's been three weeks since I saw them and I really did enjoy spending this moment with them.

After cleaning up and packing up their new plants, they left. I place my new plant on my desk and stare at it.

"Hey."

"..."

"I made you."

"..."

"You're going to grow, and then die in 30 days too."

"..."

"I'm going to name you Bean."

~