The Garden State

The young couple planted the seed in their garden. When they bought the house they decided to start the garden. Tomatoes were the first crop. Easy to grow and well-known in the Garden State, their crop did not disappoint. Big, and red, and meaty the tomatoes were perfect. The older woman next door admire the tomatoes and they gave her a basket.

The next year they planted their ribbon-worthy tomatoes but added cucumbers and green peppers.they often noticed the neighbor glancing over her fence at the garden. One day the wife thought the sunlight beaming on the garden was a sparkling golden stream when the older woman was looking at the garden. But she decided it was a trick of the eye and the sun must have been gleaming off bits of minerals in the dirt.

The harvest was again bountiful and beautiful. The woman and her daughter were outside while the young couple was harvesting. They introduced themselves to the daughter as they offered her mother a large basket of tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. They added some roses from the two rose bushes that flanked the garden. It was a beautiful offering.

Winter came and, as usual, the woman’s daughter went away. The woman became withdrawn, melancholy and did. To respond well to company during the time her daughter was away. The young couple attributed it to the winter blues.

The third year, the couple once again expanded the garden. Sugar snap peas and green beans and hey even tried a row of corn along the back fence.  They also planted more flowers. Marigolds to keep the vermin away, although they didn’t seem to have too many pests, morning glories crept up the east fence, and a spread out row of sunflowers in front of the corn. 

This year was even more special. The young couple was expecting a baby in the Autumn.

The neighbor more frequently sat on her back porch watching the garden with delight. The young wife waved to her one day as she went to prune the plants. The woman waved back and the young wife thought she saw the sunlight catch the woman’s wave. And, if she didn’t know better, she thought that wave of special sunlight was sent to the gardens.

The baby boy was born in late Autumn and one week later the woman’s daughter left for the winter. This year the woman seemed less melancholy as she spent time with the young couple and their baby boy.  

One icy winter day, the young parents returned from the doctor. They had received bad news about their perfect baby. His heart was not perfect and they weren’t sure how long the baby boy would live.

“No, my darlings, I think you’ll find the doctor is mistaken,” said the woman. And she laid her hand assuredly on the child. His parents swore her hand glowed a glittery gold, like enhanced sunshine. 

Sure enough, the tests all came back showing no defect.