Member-only story
The Yellow Hibiscus
Tempest Under 1000 Words
Chapter 1
Wednesday, April 22, 2015, 1:09 P.M
Missing my stop at 86th Street on the number 6 Lexington Avenue Local train from the Bronx last month, I had to walk three extra blocks north from 77th Street to my apartment on 83rd Street and 4th Avenue. During the unintended tour of my neighborhood, I noticed two flower shops. The first shop, Flowers Galore was on 78th Street and 4th Avenue. The second shop Every Bloomin Thing was at 81st and 4th Avenue and was much closer to my apartment. I remember smiling and thinking it was a perfect name for a flower shop. I’d moved into the neighborhood six months ago, and I’d never been inside either of them. Today, frightened and desperate, here I was. Every Bloomin Thing was closer. I entered the shop and a middle-aged man stood behind the counter arranging a bouquet of spring flowers. His name tag read ‘Juan Luiz’. I caught him as he showed a young girl standing with him behind the counter how to trim the stems off Tulips, Irises, Azaleas, Hyacinths, and other flowers. Her name tag read ‘Lucy.’ I was their only customer.
“Can I help you?” she asked politely straightening her thick-lensed glasses as I approached. She eased away from Juan, strolling over to me.
