A Esperanca da Flor

{Dedicated to the lovely Miss Rachel Baransi}

Once upon a time there was a girl named Rachel. Rachel lived in a very big city. But Rachel was very sad because in this big city was a lot of violence, hate, and discrimination.

Rachel was just a girl and didn't know what she could do. But even though the city as so hopeless, Rachel was sure there must be hope somewhere. She just had to find it. So off Rachel went on her big adventure. She traveled the world, sailed the seas, and climbed many mountains. She saw many beautiful things but she did not find hope for her city.

Rachel returned home but was still very sad.

"Is hope real?" she asked.

One day as she was walking to the Market to buy eggs, she noticed something very peculiar. In front of her, in a big pile of trash, was the most beautiful flower she had ever seen! She walked over and carefully plucked the flower. The flower's aroma was sensational and its beauty was indescribable.

She had found hope!

She was so happy that she skipped and sang all the way to the market. When
she went to buy her eggs, she noticed the vendor was very, very, sad. Rachel's
heart broke for the poor man.

"Nobody knows my paint," he mourned. "Life is so hopeless."

But Rachel knew this could not be true, for only moments earlier she had found hope.

But what good is hope if you cannot share it with
someone?

With love in her heart, Rachel placed the flower in his hand. Instantly the old man's face began to glow and his smile radiated through the market. His eyes had never beheld such miraculous beauty.

The old man was filled with new hope.

In fact, the man was so overflowing with hope that he ran right home to give the flower to his wife. Likewise, she became empowered to share it with her friend, who shared it with theirs, who shared it with theirs, till the whole town became bursting with hope.

This little flower, which had been passed by time and time again, transformed the city. It filled it with hope. The hope changed into action, which brought about love, which brightened the city, and filled it with joy.

This is the story of how flower passing became a tradition, how Rachel changed the city, and how hope is found in the most peculiar places.

[Keity] Snow, December 2009