Hank’s Tomatoes
From Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch is this week’s challenge.
May 20, 2021, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about naked gardening. Is it the veggies or the gardener who is naked? Go where the prompt leads!
(Sometimes prompts take you to a good place and sometimes prompts take you to a different place. I don’t know why, and I don’t know if I need to know anything other than it’s good to just be taken. If you have a thought on that I’d love to know it.)
Hank’s Tomatoes
Every year folks waited for some of Hank’s Brandywines. Don’t know how he does it, some said. Best tomato ever, said others.
When August rolled around and no one had seen Hank or his tomatoes folks worried. It’s the virus, some said. He’ll be around soon, said others.
Then Mrs. Murphy looked out her window one moon-filled evening and saw Hank weeding her flowerbed in the nude and that was that.
After Hank’s mind twisted the town fell quiet. Everyone offered sad, tight-lipped smiles.
Life happens, they all said while saying a prayer for Hank.
And one for themselves.
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Michael B. Fishman
Michaelsfishbowl 
Good lord, that went dark.
Dark, but timely in this time of release from Isolation…
Well done!
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Thanks Liz. (Semi-release from isolation. I’m still not comfortable going maskless)
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I hear ya. I just heard that some folks (in some county?) are “Identifying” as having been vaccinated, and their percentages are higher than actual records of vaccinations. WTF, better safe than sorry…
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It’s a poignant flash, and although sad, the neighbors express their concern. The song you chose was a good mirror to the emotion evoked in your story.
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There are places I don’t want to go maskless either as too many refuse to get vaccinated. The vaccine isn’t a cure all, just a reduction of symptoms and as an ‘older fart’ there is much I need to be cautious of.
T’is true about twisted minds. I know too many with dementia. Some more severe than others. Let us all think good thoughts for all in need.
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