Lynn sat alone on the gray rock at the edge of the pond gazing into the distance. Different day, same rock, same pond. The same dirty water. The same life.
The breeze was slight; the humidity was stifling.
Lynn’s break time at the factory was strictly 15 minutes. That left nowhere else to go but out the back door, past a pile of broken pallets and to the edge of the pond. And that’s where Lynn sat. Her eyes sought the distance.
Something moved on the water. A snake, probably.
Far across the pond were the shade trees. They appeared like an oasis mirage in a desert, so green, so inviting, but never within reach. At the factory workers had only 15 minutes. And of course a quick lunch in the cafeteria. And after work one hurried home to beat the traffic.
The water of the pond was just as muddy as the ground surrounding Lynn’s rock. Where the water came from, Lynn didn’t know. The torpid pond seemed a shallow bowl of dust mixed with tears, broken earth, rusted things, time’s remnants.
As always her time passed.
Soon time to go.
The thing on the water appeared closer. The slight breeze seemed to be pushing it.
Lynn sat on the hard rock and watched the mystery as it moved.
Garbage, she assumed.
The thing moved slowly across the water, drawing closer, closer, into focus. It was nothing more than a piece of dead bark.
Lynn watched the bark inch across the dust-specked pond, until it finally bumped up against her rock. Lying upon the bark was something white.
The tiny flower was perfect, white, inexplicable.
Like a snowflake.
Lynn looked down. A flower? From where?
Almost time to go.
Something urged Lynn to gently pick up the small flower. Quietly she placed it beside herself on the rock.
A change of air.
The ghost ship departed, its cargo delivered.
Short Stories by Richard 