Hello everyone my name is salt. I have a following on a couple of small writing platforms. I recently got some of the rights for this story back so I wanted to put the story on new platforms so a new audience can enjoy this story. I am slowly publishing this story. I hope you enjoy and decide to stay a while.
To my mother and S.B.
-my love, the world you never saw-
"The world's flattery and hypocrisy is a sweet morsel:
eat less of it, for it is full of fire.
Its fire is hidden while its taste is manifest,
but its smoke becomes visible in the end. "
― Jalaluddin Rumi
Divine Right Florals sat next to Harvest Wholesale Grocers on a dead end strip joint in a small midwestern ghosttown. The stark contrast between the two was apparent in the front displays. The floral shop boasted a beautiful menagerie of animals that scuttled around a manicured forest that was outfitted with bright florals and fruit baskets. The animals glowed as they chattered with bits of banana and and drank from a serene crystal fountain. The grocery store on the other hand had a hodgepodge of different seasons smashed into a 10 x 10 window frame. Every potted plant imaginable decorated with straw wreaths and gaudy Christmas lights strung through them. Easter eggs stacked like cheap baubles at odd angles. Hidden amongst the foliage was slogan that read:
AMPLE FOR EVERYONE.
This morning had been a very successful day for Ms. Demeter Prosper and she was quite proud. Her thought turned to how her daughter was faring so during her lunch break Demeter walked over to the adjoining flower shop. She found her less than impressive daughter crouched behind the cramped cash register.
"We make sure every day is a bountiful harvest." Demeter said sharply, straightening her suit as she cocked an eyebrow.
"Yes, mother. You are a goddess of good-will and good-fortune. I can't imagine why you would ever fail at having a bountiful harvest. This isn't a wholesale grocery, I have to make sure everything stays alive the normal way." A stack of framed botanical illustrations slipped from a shelf and crashed onto the floor
"Now Kore . . ."
"I'm not a god, you are. I also prefer Persephone to being called Kore."
"Just for protection dear, we wouldn't want any accidents."
"Accidentally having some real fun" Persephone muttered under her breath as she peeked out from underneath the counter and stacked the illustrations in the prescribed place.
Demeter dusted off the top of the counter. "You should consider making Divine Right a joint venture with Harvest. The profit margins would be excellent and you'd get some real business experience if you got away from all of these . . . flying and crawling pests."
The bell at the tip of the door rang.
Infinitesimally Demeter turned. Persephone felt herself slowly descending into the alcove underneath the register and a cold numbness creep through her knees. She knew she could fight it, but from experience, she knew Demeter would remind her later why the mortals revered her. Resigned Persephone gave in and she could see the vein in her mother's poreless forehead stop twitching.
YOU ARE READING
Dead End Florals
FantasyHades ruled with an iron fist, handled his affairs with all the cool intellect and remorse that one exudes from death itself. But even a king cannot deny he wishes for spring. To charge his solemn existence, he reaches for a flower --Persephone -- a...
