Short Story Assignment 1: The Plant

My sister is two years younger than me.  We have a close relationship, like best friends.  We started to take care of a plant in our childhood after seeing our mother toil around with gardening.  When we asked her why she to become a gardener she replied "so she can measure her happiness with the plants."  We became inspired, for we wanted to be happy too.  We begged to help her in the garden, she seemed reluctant.  So she gave us a plant and told us both to take care of it together and that we must nurture with love and feed it every day.  We happily agreed with big smiles on our face.  The plant was nothing special, just a seedling for a fern, but we loved like it was a playful little puppy.

At 10 and 8 years old, having the responsibility like that felt like I could do anything for this little plant.  My sister and I would often argue about who got to feed him that day and we ultimately decided we would alternate each day.  We named him "Dog” and wrote it on the pot we kept him in.  He stayed in the living room on the window sill in that little pot no bigger than a mug.  We were surprised when he began to bud and a leaf grew.  Amazement was written all over our faces, for we felt like we accomplished something.

A year later, Dog survived and thrived.  "It's almost time to move him to a bigger pot." our mom explained.  She told us "If we want Dog to remain healthy, he’ll need to stretch his roots".  So a couple of days later we went shopping for a new pot for Dog, than we moved him into it.

Another year has passed and I joined the soccer team at my middle school and my sister is now in 5th grade.  It's becoming harder to take care of Dog because of practice and playing with friends after school.  My sister also made friends with a couple of little girls in her class.   Even so, we still find the time for Dog.  Feeding him, cleaning the dust off him, talking to him always brings us joy.  But we have noticed that the tips of his leaves are beginning to wilt.  We're not worried we know he'll get better.

Another year has passed and I am now heavily involved with my soccer team and I mostly leave Dog's well-being to my sister.  But I have noticed that his leaves aren't as green as they once were they'll getting lighter could just be my imagination.

Another year has passed and I noticed I haven't spoken to my sister in days nor have been feeding Dog.  I get out of bed to look for them both.  As I approach Dog, I noticed he has wilted beyond recognition.  I begin to panic for a second then I just get a depressing feeling.  Dejected I show my sister, who have also forgot to feed him due to her school life, you can see her eyes beginning to water.  She apologizes to me.  I asked him why she apologized.  She said for forgetting to feed Dog.  I tell him I am also at fault.  We ask our mother is there anything that can be done to save him and she replies that there isn't.  We both feel bad, my sister sheds a few tears, and our childhood best friend is dead.  My mother gives us a new seedling and asks if we want to give it another go.  We agree and my sister and I agree that once a day we find time to take care of this new plant. And never let the busyness of our live get in the way.