Flowers for friends

It’s a morning off. I stay in bed till ten past nine. I go to the flower shop. The assistant asks if she can help. I don’t mutter ‘I’m just looking’, without meeting her eyes. I say ‘I want to buy flowers for five friends’. She makes suggestions. I spot bunches of roses next to bunches of carnations. Ten roses, five carnations – perfect. I wonder about the colours. Maybe she can help? Between us we decide on red carnations with white roses. I’m just about to take the two bunches away when I hear myself asking if she can make them into little posies for me. She smiles shyly, ‘If you don’t mind waiting’. She shows the first arrangement for my approval. It’s lovely. She finishes off each bunch with red ribbons and green raffia. I can’t believe how much trouble she is taking over them and how delighted she seems to be in doing so. When I tell Vandanajyoti she says ‘You gave her a chance to show her skill; to shine’.