Entry_Level_The Garden_04

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Part 5

A woman came out of the house. She saw meat the gate and came up to me. ‘who are you?’ she said. ‘what do you want?’

‘can you give me a job?’ I asked.

‘No work here,’ said the woman. She turnedand walked away.

Suddenly she stopped and came back. ‘wait aminute,’ she said. ‘We have a new greenhouse. I’ll need some help. Come withme.’

I followed Mrs Jack to the house. She askedme many questions about plants and gardening. I knew the answers. Old Georgewas a good teacher. ‘I’ll give you a job,’ said Mrs Jack. ‘You can start today.’She smiled for the first time.

Mrs Jack gave me a room in her house. I workedhard for her, and I loved the work. I liked the country. I liked the fresh airand the sunshine. I did not think about my father. But I often thought of oldGeorge. Mrs jack was kind. She paid me well for my work, and she gave me goodfood. But I did not like her son, Harry. He was a big man, with thick glasses. Hedid not talk much or smile. He watched me all the time. his eyes followed me.one day I was working in the new greenhouse. I was watering the tomatoes. I’msafe here, I thought to myself, I’m far away from my father and his friend. I heardsomebody behind me. I turned round. I was Harry. He took my hand and smiled atme. ‘I like you,’ he said. ‘You’re a nice girl.’ I pushed Harry away. ‘Go away!’I said. ‘Don’t touch me.’ I hat men. You are all the same. You drink and fightand break things. Leave me alone. I ran out of the greenhouse. I wanted to bealone. After that day, Harry did not look at me. he did not speak to me. I wasglad. One day I had an idea. I need my own little garden, I thought. I’ll growsome flowers. Then I will forget about Father and harry. I’ll make somethingbeautiful. There was a small piece of ground near the house. I pulled out theweeds and dug the earth. I had George’s packet of flower seeds. I planted themin my new garden and watched them grow. My new garden grew well. The flowershad beautiful flowers. They smelled sweet.

One day, Mrs Jack visited my garden. ‘Look,Mrs. Jack,’ I said. ‘flowers grow well here. Why don’t we grow some in themarket garden? You sell fruit and vegetables. We can sell flowers too. You canmake more money.’

‘that’s a good idea,’ Mrs Jack said. ‘It’syour idea, and you can do the work. But where will you sell flowers? There isno flower shop here.’

I remembered the flower shop in the city. Itwas near my father’s flat. I bought my first bunch of flowers in that shop. I boughtmy first bunch of flowers in that shop. Next day I got up early. I picked someof my best flowers. I took the bus to the city. In the city the streets werehot. The people looked tired. Life is better in the country, I thought. The peoplein the country are happier. I walked quickly to the flower shop. I looked roundall the time. I did not want to meet my father. The people in the shop werefriendly. ‘yes, we’ll buy your flowers,’ said the manager. ‘They are very, verybeautiful.’