The Magic Marigold

It was a warm summer morning and Alice was strolling through the fields near her house. Her home was surrounded by nature. Fields of flowers, hills of lush green grass, a stream and a forest, all bordered the cottage style house.

The flowers were all in bloom. They formed a colorful sea of blues, reds, pinks, purples, golds, and more. Alice stopped just outside of one of the fields, under a huge weeping willow tree. She sat down, took a book and a thermos out of her shoulder bag and began reading, while sipping coffee.

She loved spending her mornings like this. Life could be so hard and frustrating sometimes and these mornings took away some of that anxiety.

About a half hour into her reading, Alice looked up, as a bird sang a quiet song. Glancing out toward the flower fields, she took notice to one flower in particular. It was a marigold. The only marigold amongst endless wildflowers, the gold and orange flower almost appeared to shimmer in the morning sun.

Then, Alice realized that the song she'd been hearing hadn't come from a bird at all, but seemed to be coming from the flower. "Huh." Alice thought. "That seems unusual."

She got up and walked leisurely toward the presumably singing flower. When she reached it, she realized that it was indeed singing. She bent down and her soul filled with the song of the flower. It was drawing her closer.

Suddenly, the music stopped and Alice heard a small, squeaky voice, instead. "Pick me! Pick me! All your wishes will come true! Pick me! Pick Me!"

Thinking this too good to be true, but curiosity getting the best of her, Alice gently pulled the flower from the ground. She instantly felt something like electrical static go through her.

Deciding to test what the flower had said, she silently wished for a double shot mocha expresso latte. Not seeing anything happen, Alice decided the flower was just a flower and she had imagined things. It was still a pretty flower though, so she took it with her as she walked back over to her bag under the tree. She started reading again, and took a sip of her coffee from her thermos. Startled, she realized that it was not the black coffee she had brought, but a mocha latte!

Alice didn't know what to think. Had she really picked a magic marigold? What kinds of thing could she wish for? Where there limits? She had no idea.

She gathered up her things and began walking home, carrying the flower in her hand. When she reached her little stone cottage, she saw a handwritten note on her door. Alice took it down and began to read; You have picked the magic marigold! This flower will grant you wishes, but there are two rules. Do not make wishes that will hurt other people, animals or nature. You may not wish for world peace or anything along those lines. You are encouraged to make wishes that will help others, not just yourself. Wishes are not limited. You may transfer the flower to someone else at anytime. To keep the flower alive, simply make wishes that are selfless. Carry on and have fun!

Wow. The possibilities were endless! What should Alice wish for first? She wasn't really into money or material things. She loved living in her little cottage in the woods.

Alice did like, no, love coffee. An endless supply of lattes would be nice. Maybe her own person Dunkin Donuts in the forest that was staffed 24/7 and fully paid for. That sounded nice. She held the flower and whispered, "My own personal Dunkin Donuts next to my cottage please."

Within moments, a small building matching her cottage appeared, with a little serving window and a sign hanging listing drinks. Smiling, Alice approached the window. Peering inside, she saw what appeared to be two little elves, wearing aprons with the Dunkin Donuts logo on them. One of them greeted her with an already made drink. She took the cup and sampled it. The drink was perfect.

Alice then went inside her cottage. She put some things together in a bag, and prepared to go into town. Outside again, she slung her bag over her shoulder, placed the flower into the basket of her bicycle, and started peddling toward town.

Once she arrived in town, she parked her bike and took the flower out of the basket. She strolled through the streets, looking in shop windows, watching the people who passed by her.

Alice was looking for someone to give the flower to. She already had the things she wanted and her coffee stand was more than enough to fulfill her wish list. She wanted to pay it forward, now.

After walking a bit, Alice came across a mother and young child sitting on a street corner. Their clothes were dirty and torn and it was obvious they were homeless.

Alice bent down and handed the flower to the child. The mother looked up at her, confused. Alice, still touching the flower, said out loud, "I wish for a feast of food!" The pair looked at Alice like she'd lost her mind, but then a full course meal appeared before them. Wide eyed, they both dug in, as Alice explained about the magic flower. She handed them the letter, and smiled. "All I ask is that you pay it forward too, once you are done with your wishes. Don't be greedy." The mother and daughter nodded.

Years and Years went by and the magic marigold passed from person to person. Each would make their wishes and then send the flower on to someone else. No one let greed get the best of them.

To this day the flower still circulates. Be on the lookout. You might be next to receive it, but remember, make your wishes and pass it on!