The Garden No

I felt the cool breeze brush my face as I stepped outside onto the porch, the wind whipping my hair around. I closed my eyes and inhaled the freshness of the garden below. I waddled down the giant steps until I found myself at the entrance to the garden. There were vines growing in an arc in front of me forming a sort of doorway twice as tall as me. There were flowers blooming everywhere. I looked up and pulled at one of the leaves inspecting its veins. There was a brightly colored ladybug perched on the leaf. I counted the dots on its wings out of habit. I then plucked the beetle up off the leaf and watched it crawl over my little fingers. It crawled up my arm, weaving over and under my bracelets, then took flight leaving me to search through the garden on my own.

The sun shown brightly through the trees warming my skin. I set off in search of an afternoon snack to silence my gurgling tummy. As I walked I looked at the pansies and sweet pea flowers in their beds lining the walkway soaking up the sun. I crouched down to inspect them. The sweet peas smelled like my grandma’s pretty purple soap in the bathroom upstairs. I suddenly heard rustling in the blackberry bushes behind me and spun around. I stood up quickly and grabbed the gardening shovel that was sticking out of the dirt beside me; holding it point end facing the direction of the noise. I gripped the foam handle tightly as the rustling grew louder. My heart raced beating against my ribcage as I imagined all the horrid monsters that could be coming for me. Then,out hopped a robin munching on black berries. I exhaled and flopped back down into the dirt watching the little bird. It looked at me for a moment then went back to eating. The orange of its chest was slightly stained and splotchy from eating berries. I crept toward the bird slowly, so as not to disturb it. I reached over and grabbed a handful of berries off the prickly branch and set off again down the path stuffing my face.