Magna's Magnolias

In the small quaint town of Easttown people got along well and everyone knew everyone, as it goes with people in a small town. There wasn’t much to do, nor was there much in terms of commerce as the population was so low, there wasn’t a need for many stores, just the essentials. However, there was a flower shop that sat on the outskirts of the town that was seldom ever visited. The owner freaked out some of the townsfolk, mostly just because no one had gotten to know her and for the most part the people of Easttown would keep to themselves and those that they knew. Inside the flower shop known as Magnolias was always the owner, Magna, who lived on the second floor. After her late husband had passed she turned the ground floor into a flower shop, it was something she had always wanted to do and being in her later years she figured now was the time. She had her troubles being on her own but she kept a loving spirit through it all and tending to the flowers helped her physically and mentally even if people didn’t exactly come around too often.

A ringing sound rang through the air as Magna heard the doorbell ringing, a rare customer sighting she had thought. In came a young woman, looking around at all of Magna’s offerings. Magna was beside herself with excitement to see a potential customer and did her best to contain herself.

“Good morning young lady. Could I help you with anything?” Magna asked politely with the softest voice the young woman had ever heard. The young woman took a moment to look away from a flower that she had been eyeing and smiled at Magna.

“Morning, Not just yet, but thank you.” The young woman softly spoke in response as she continued to slowly walk back and forth looking at the many options.

The young woman was impressed by the selection and how well kept the entire shop was, especially considering it is such a small shop only run by an elderly woman that no one seems to visit often. She also began to wonder why the place doesn’t run advertisements or have any kind of positive word of mouth.

“You have a beautiful selection here, I’m surprised people don’t talk about this place.” The young woman spoke.

“Well, everyone does everything digitally these days, even in a small town like this one. I’m too old fashioned for such a thing but people still come by here and there. Not as often as I might like, but it’s still nice seeing fine folk like yourself ma’am.” Magna responded as she went around examining some of her flowers with a trimmer in hand picking some of the flowers that were outgrowing their allotted space.

The young woman finally came to a stop once her eyes became fixated on a selection of marigolds. Her pause caught the attention of Magna, as she put her trimmers down by the checkout counter and walked to the pretty young lady.

“Those are some of my very best flowers. Marigolds, so pretty much like yourself if I do say so myself.” Magna spoke with a smile that slightly made the woman uncomfortable even despite the compliment.

“Thank you. They are pretty.” The young woman paused in her response. “My grandmother passed away and I wanted to get her something beautiful for her gravestone. Would this be a good choice?”

“It would, of course. They are said to be the flower of the dead by some cultures, they even symbolize positive emotions such as happiness and joy which I am sure your grandmother brought plenty of into your life. Would I be correct in that assumption, young lady?” Magna asked plainly.

“Yeah…” The young woman paused as she tried to contain her own emotions, as she was still grieving. “Yes, she was always good to me. Like a mother even. I’ll take them.”

Magna began to extract some marigolds from the display and readied them for purchase, but to the young woman it seemed as if Magna had more on her mind yet she was holding back. Magna began to whistle as she normally does whenever packing up an order for the very rare customer, usually she’d whistle an old tune that her late husband would sing to her whenever she was upset.

Magna took a deep breath and finally came forth. “I’m truly sorry for your loss. I know it is difficult to lose a loved one.” Magna paused as she looked behind her, knowing that she could offer more than just a few marigold flowers to a grieving young lady. “I have a few other things in the back you are more than welcome to take, no charge. Just a good deed for a fine young lady.”

The young lady smiled in return and shook her head yes and the two walked into the back room. She thought that in the back would just be more flowers, but instead it was celebratory items for birthdays or graduations and even memorial gifts for funerals. She was amazed once again at how nice the shop was and how she had so many items.

“How do you keep this place so nice on your own? It really is beautiful here.” The young woman asked.

“Sometimes I get help, but considering how little people come by it has been easier to upkeep on my own. Not to mention, sometimes when I get fine people like yourself…” Magna trailed off as she cleaned around behind a counter while the young lady looked around at various items ranging from wind chimes and gift baskets which she all felt like wouldn’t be the ideal thing to leave at a gravestone. “Which reminds me, what is your name dear?”

“Alexa.”

“Beautiful name dear. Really anything you want is yours, I know nothing here really is fitting for the cause, just want to do a good deed for the day. It’s what my old Dennis would’ve done.”

Alexa smiled but couldn't find anything that caught her eye. Magna cleaned and cleaned while giving Alexa all the time she would need to find whatever her heart desired. It made her think back to her late husband and how he had instilled this into her, the idea of giving back whenever possible.

“Ya know. I think the flowers will be it. I really appreciate the offer though but I should be getting back. How much do I owe you for the marigolds?” Alexa explained as she looked at her phone for what time it was.

“Oh you don’t have to trouble yourself on that at all miss. Not on a day like today, no ma'am. You’ll be okay dear. You know that?” Magna asked.

“This too shall pass, right?” Alexa smiled with a faint smile which Magna indulged back.

“It won’t, but that is how you know she’ll always be with you. She’ll always be proud and always loving you. It’s a cliche, but it is just God's honest truth.”

Alexa nodded her head in appreciation while taking the flowers and collected herself a bit. She headed toward the exit but stopped for a second as she thought of the good memories between her and her grandmother and for the first time in a long while she didn’t remember the times in the hospital watching her slowly fade away into nothingness. All the good memories flowed through her memory like a fine wine.

“Thank you for everything. I really appreciate everything, I’ll be sure to tell others about this place. I have no idea why people don’t know about this shop.” Alexa said.

That's a mighty kind thing of you to say, you are a good soul. Even if more people knew about my shop I don’t think it would change much. I’m okay with that too, I don’t know if i could handle more people, this place just gives me something to do and to keep busy. Having people like you come through and have this kind of talk, that gives me life. So I should be thanking you.” Magna smiled back and waved goodbye as Alexa left Magna’s Magnolias,