The Ugly Flower

Dandelion only had one wish…

Word count=1176

Dandelion was drooping off to sleep in the hot midday sun when she was a suddenly woken by two feet landing on her head.

"Wha...wha...what's going on?" She replied, blinking her eyes in the bright sun as she lifted her head.

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry to wake you," a soft voice answered. "I didn't notice you were sleeping."

"Who are you?" Dandelion asked. "I don't think we've met before."

"My name is Butterfly. Are you certain we've never met? I know all the flowers in this field."

"Oh," Dandelion muttered. "I'm not a real flower, Butterfly. I'm nothing but a Dandelion. If you're looking for the best place to rest on, you should consider Black–Eyed Susan. You would look stunning on her dark orange petals and bold brown center.

"I'm perfectly fine where I'm at," Butterfly replied. "I don't understand, though. You have lovely yellow petals yourself."

"You are too kind, Butterfly, but I've seen what happens when people come. They wade through the beautiful fields selecting this flower and that, and when they get to me they walk away saying ' oh, not that one" Dandelion explained.

"Oh Little Dandelion, just you wait and see. One day..."

"No," Dandelion stated. "You don't understand. There is no wait and see. There is no one day. I will always be just a lowly weed."

"Now, now Little Dandelion," Butterfliy answered in her best soothing voice. "I've been around longer than you, and I've seen what happens when all of the other..."

"What? You've seen what happens when, what?" Dandelion was getting all worked up now. "All the beautiful flowers are picked and admired by people. They get to go to a home and spread their joy and cheer forever."

Butterfly shook her head, "no, Little Dandelion, you don't understand. Once a flower leaves this field..."

"They get a home. They are adopted by a family," Dandelion insisted. "You don't know what it's like to have everyone think you're ugly."

"But I do, Little Dandelion," butterfly answered. "When I was younger, people thought I was terribly ugly, too. They thought I'd never amount to anything. Look at me now. People think I'm one of the most beautiful of insects."

"Well," Dandelion snapped. "That's you. No one will ever pick me, and take me home."

"Did you ever stop to consider that maybe being picked isn't the best thing?" Butterfly asked.

"How can you say that?" Dandelion yelled. "I'll never join a family at dinner while they comment on how I complete the table. I'll never sit on someone's desk, and watch the tension melt away when they look at me and sigh. I'll never see a woman's smile when she receives me from love struck hands. No one will ever think I'm a special gift, and press me lovingly in a Bible for future generations, Butterfly."

Butterfly flew off of Dandelions head and landed gently on a blade of grass beside her.

Looking Dandelion directly in the eyes, Butterfly said gently, "that's not how the fairy tale ends, Dandelion."

"What do you mean, Butterfly?"

"You see," she explained, "once a flower leaves this field she cannot continue to grow. She'll sit in a vase on the table or on a desk but eventually her petals began to drop to the floor. Then one day those happy hands who picked her will remove her from her place of honor, sweep up the petals, and throw them all away. This is not the fate for you Dandelion."

"They just throw them away?" Dandelion asked.

"Yes child," Butterfly continued, "the flower dries out becomes brittle and browned, and then... "

"Well," Dandelion said. "At least for a time they got to shine. I'm stuck here in this field, a disgusting weed. I would rather be loved and admired like that instead of remaining here unwanted and unknown."

"What makes you think this is all there is for you Dandelion?" Butterfly asked. "Did you ever consider that maybe one day..."

"One day I won't be a weed anymore?" Dandelion asked bitterly.

"Not exactly, Little Dandelion," Butterfly said. "I do know you are destined for something else."

"What?" Dandelion asked. "What is my fate?"

"One day, you'll see what I mean." And with that, Butterfly flew away.

Dandelion watched her head into the distance, and when it didn't look like she was coming back to explain, Dandelion hung her head again in the fading sunlight.




Dandelion was having a lovely dream, but she suddenly woke up when she heard a small quiet voice.

"Well hello again, Little Dandelion."

Dandelion looked up to see the beautiful butterfly she'd met in the Spring.

"Butterfly," Dandelion smiled. "I never thought I'd see you again. You were right! You were right! I did change! Just look at me..."

"You look like a snowflake in summertime," Butterfly stated.

"And I feel different, too," Dandelion went on. "I feel like I could fly like you. Sometimes, when a breeze comes by its like every nerve is tingling. I can't really explain it, but I think, if the wind blew just a little harder..."

Butterfly and the Dandelion were interrupted by doors slamming. They could hear laughing as the van from the local orphanage emptied into the field. The younger children skipped ahead, squealing in delight.

But one girl wandered the field alone.

"This is it," Butterfly said to Dandelion. "This is what you were meant for. I'll see you in a minute."

Dandelion was confused as Butterfly left. What did she mean, Dandelion thought, what's my moment?

When the girl drew closer, Dandelion was heartbroken to see her miserable eyes full of tears. I wish there was something I could do, Dandelion cried to herself. If I were like the other flowers my beauty could bring a smile to her face. But I'm just a weed.

Then suddenly, before she even knew what happened, Dandelion felt a snap in her stem, and she was floating higher and higher towards the girl's face.

For a moment in time, Dandelion and the girl were eye to eye, and the girl's tears began to flow down her cheeks.

"Oh, Dandelion," she sobbed. "I wish...I wish someone wanted me."

As the wish fell on Dandelion's ears, she felt herself swell with the weight of it. Then, the girl drew in a deep breath, and with a puff, Dandelion exploded!

She was floating, flying. She looked back at the girl something else besides sadness in the girl's eyes. There was hope.

Then Butterfly flew beside.

"Butterfly, look at me or me. I'm flying. Like you. Did you see? Did you see that girl? She picked me. She needed me."

"Yes, Dandelion" Butterfly smiled as she replied. "You've been given someone's wish.

Wow, a wish. Dandelion closed her eyes and smiled as she thought about where to plant that lonely girls wish, so it could come true.

Butterfly continued, "you know Dandelion, you may not have brought a smile to her face, but you gave her something far more important...hope." Then Butterfly flew away.