Wocky is not exactly a fan of flowers. No, saying that was an understatement, Wocky thought that being a florist was stupid. Wocky would get up every day to his dreary job of selling flowers to people because he no longer has his parents to rely on; he no longer gets away with being rude and confrontational with the ordinary citizen; he can no longer be himself in this world. The only thing Wocky hated more than his job was the terrible weather that Winter would bring to California. The rain that was currently covering the city he lived in trapped him in his house like a prison door.
Going in to work on a Saturday, huh? What has my life turned into? Wocky idly thought to himself as he began his gloomy routine like he always did. The path to his workplace wasn’t far; it wasn’t treacherous at all. Ironic, Wocky considered it. Growing up, he always wanted to be some big, fearsome mob boss who had thousands of dollars and controlled thousands, but now… now he’s just some loser florist who can barely make ends meet.
The flower shop wasn’t even anything special. It was just some boring, random building on the side of the road. The sign out the front read “Kitaki Florists.” Inside, there was a small rug, flowers for sale in a central island and pots and other containers on the outside. The interior was narrow, and at the end lay Wocky Kitaki and the cash register.
Customer after customer came in, putting their wet shoes all over the floor like some idiots without even drying them first. Wow, I’ve truly become some old G who shouts at kids, haven’t I? Wocky mused to himself. The day ran like pretty much any other, with the exception of a single person. A woman, whose name he never even bothered to ask, came in with a long, wavy blue-ish hair, carrying some sort of sketchbook with her.
She wasn’t Wocky’s type, but wow, she made him nervous. Chill out, you’re an adult now, you know how to handle women… Wocky thought to himself in an attempt to calm down. She began to look around, and wordlessly inspected the flowers in the shop.
“Need any help there?” Wocky asked.
“Oh no, I’m just looking for flowers for a waiting room, that’s all.” She responded.
“Well, I’ve silk flowers if you want ‘em” Wocky said.
“No thanks. I want the flowers to be real.” She said gracefully.
“Yeah, yeah I agree, they wack. I’ve roses and tulips, along with more rare flowers too, if you wan’.”
“I think I will look on my own,” She said. She then began to look all around the store without talking to Wocky. Customers came and went, but she… she was an outlier in Wocky’s mind; a person wearing a rain jacket on a perfectly sunny day.
She perused the shelves for a while before deciding on a final bouquet of flowers to buy.
“How much would these flowers cost?” She asked. Wocky eyed the flowers she picked out: tulips, most of them being yellow or black
“Who are you, a beekeeper?” Wocky said, in an attempt to start small talk.
“No. I just enjoy this specific colour combination. I’m an artist, first and foremost, after all.”
Ah, so that’s where the sketchbook comes from
“How come a G like you’s buying flowers for a waiting room? You lookin’ to set up some sorta business or somethin’?” Wocky said.
“Yes… I’m actually looking to set up a tattoo studio.” She said
“Woah, I didn’t realize you were gangster!”
“Gangster? No, not at all. I just admire the way tattoos look on people. The thought of permanently inking something into your body. Is it not poetic?”
“Woah, that sounds like a whole lot of words for somethin’ that I don’t really get to be honest.” Wocky said. “I thought wantin’ to set up a tattoo place would be pretty gangster but I guess not, huh?”
“... I thought setting up a florist would be pretty poetic, but I suppose that’s not the type of person you are, is it?” Vera said.
“Yeah, hey maybe we should switch jobs, then the O.G’s finally know what to expect! ‘cept I can’t draw for shit…” Wocky said.
Vera let out a soft giggle before speaking: “Perhaps we should. Then again, I don’t think I could be a salesperson in anything that wasn’t related to art. I might just get too nervous talking to the customers.”
“Ah, well whatever! It gets easier over time, trust me, I’m a natural at making small talk with the customers.” Wocky said.
I am not a natural at this at all. I’m not even sure how I’m still talking to you, to be perfectly honest. Wocky thought to himself.
“Is that so? I’m sure I’ll be good at it then…”
“Yeah, well, look, I guess I know who to go to if I’m ever in need of a tattoo, y’know what I’m sayin’?”
“Ah, well, I’m still new to this after all… I’m unsure if you’d even want to go to somebody as inexperienced as me…”
“Nah, trust me! I don’ wanna be dealing with some wack needles or whatever; trust me, I’ve been there!” Wocky said
I have definitely not been there
“Oh yes, that is something I plan to avoid having at all costs…”
“Yeah, y’see! Real G’s gonna be flyin’ into your place!”
“Wow… that’s a very optimistic outlook…” Vera said
“But it’s true! And you wanna know why I know? Cuz I’m a real O.G down here! You get me?”
“... Wow, I’m unsure what to say. … Well, I have to go now, but these flowers look like they’ll suit my lounge well.”
“Oh yeah, be sure to Google a guide or 2 on how to take care of the flowers! Gotta make sure those beauties don’ go to waste…” Wocky said
“I’ll be sure to do so…. Goodbye.”
“So uh, that’ll be 12 bucks” Wocky said
“Oh, right... “ Vera Misham pulled out her purse and gave $12 to Wocky.
“Bye! And uh, see ya later!” Wocky said as Vera began to leave the shop.
It took a couple of seconds for what Wocky had actually just done to finally sink into his mind. However, once the realization hit, he became shocked.
Wait… I just did that. That was so smooth, I felt so good doin’ it, I was so confident… I feel like I just shot a guy straight in the forehead! How did I even make it out of that alive? Whatever, I know people by now… she probably doesn’t even like me back… right?
The rest of the day went about the same for Wocky. Customers came in, they bought flowers wordlessly, and the monotony of the work day began to set in. And with that monotony came with the realization that Vera Misham really was the royal flush among the pairs and 2 pairs.
Whatever, G’s like her probably aren’t gonna show up again, right? She already got her flowers, she won’ buy more.
At least, that’s what Wocky thought for now.
Winter was such a depressing month to Wocky. When fate gave him Vera Misham, he was sure that it was a simple taunting, to show him the life he would never have; to show him the futility of his actions.
What fate wasn’t supposed to do, was give him Vera Misham once again, in his shop, the first day he went back. He knew that much. Except that’s exactly what fate gave him.
Wocky went back to his job, expecting another dreary Monday. And of course, that is what should have happened. The skies were clouded, weather forecasts reported a high of 60°F, and the people on the streets looked as if they didn’t give a shit about what Wocky wanted.
Wocky went into his job, and for a while, it was that boring Monday; it was the pinnacle of a depressed idiot trying their best to work for money. That was until Vera appeared once more.
It was about 6pm, and the streets had gone quite dark by this point, when Vera appeared in his store. Wocky’s mind instantly raced. Why is she here?
Wocky began to answer his own question, incessantly:
There must be something fishy with the flowers, there must be!
She must have made them wack somehow, I don’t think she’d have beef with me, but still…
Maybe she just wants advice on how to care for them? That’s why she came so late.
No, no, she just didn’t have time! Clearly som’in major must have gone wrong, otherwise she wouldn’ be here right now.
“... Hello?”
It was Vera. Now she’s gonna be even madder at me! Wocky thought to himself
“Ah, sorry there! Just uh… thinkin’ to myself” Wocky said
“Hello, yes… I just wanted to tell you that I really liked the way the flowers looked… I was wondering if… if maybe I could have some more? I’m afraid my place looks quite empty right now.”
Oh. That’s all?
“Oh! Oh yeah, of course! You want more of them tulips?” Wocky said as he began to internally breathe one of the largest sighs of relief in his life.
“I’d be fine with that, but I was also thinking that maybe I could use some variety in my reception?” Vera began to mess with that sketchbook that she seemed to always carry. “This is a rough sketch of the place… I know it’s not the best, but I thought it might help you to decide what types of flowers could go there…”
Wocky saw the sketch, and he was amazed at how vivid the room seemed to be. It was almost as if she had taken a photo of the room, and applied 30 filters over it to make it look like a sketch. It contained a simple waiting area, consisting of a table in the back left with a computer and monitor, as well as a landline phone, keyboard, mouse, and a plethora of sticky notes and stationery. In front of that table were some chairs that sat next to a central table.
“I think these parts look quite empty…” Vera began to point around the sketch, specifically at the main table.
“... There’s nothing on it. I want to change that…”
“Well, go take a look! There’s tons of flowers here you could choose from” Wocky said.
“I’m indecisive… I was wondering what you thought.” Vera responded
“Oh! Well uh… daffodils could work?” Wocky wasn’t sure of what he said, but he said it anyways.
“An interesting choice…” Vera said. “I wonder what the meanings of daffodils are.”
“You’re considerin’ flowers based off meaning?” Wocky said
“Not really. It’s just interesting for me to see. Shouldn’t you know the meanings of flowers?” Vera asked seemingly genuinely
“Ah well red roses are for love! And uh, edelweiss has… I dunno…”
“Edelweiss?” Vera questioned
“Yeah, it’s got a cool name, I mean just sayin’ it makes me sound cool… edelweiss… doesn’t that sound cool?”
“Yet you never learned the meaning?”
“Well, if it has a name like that, then it’s sure to have an even better meaning!”
Vera then seemed to smile, knowing something.
“Hm… I suppose it could.” She said.
“Uh, well anyway! Daffodils might look cool there!”
“... They look a bit strange in contrast to the tulips though…”
“That’s uh… kinda what I was goin’ for!” Wocky said “The white also contrasts with the black of the tulips you bought!”
“... Maybe... On second thought... Do you have any pink carnations?”
“You buyin’ them for the meanin’ or somethin’?”
“No. I just think they look nice, don’t you?”
“Yeah, they do.” Wocky said while going over to the centre island and preparing a bouquet of them. Vera simply watched him during that time
“So uh, 7 bucks!” Wocky said.
“Oh yes, right…” Vera said.
As Vera began to pull out the money from her purse, Wocky began to speak:
“So uh, how’s that business goin’? Any O.G’s showed up yet?” Wocky asked.
“Some people have.” Vera said.
“What they like?”
“Oh, just... people.”
“‘People’? Are they real G’s like me?”
“Um... Some of them could be described as... ‘gangster’ I suppose...“ Vera responded
“Aw, sick! I should come over to your place some time, you could probably get some cool tattoos on me and everythin’!”
“Oh yes, our business is open to the general public... If you want to come in, you’ll have to book an appointment though... It’s called ‘Invincible Ink.’”
“Sounds sick! I’m gonna come in as soon as possible!” Wocky said.
“That’s wonderful...“ Vera said. She then grabbed the $7 from her purse and gave it to Wocky.
“Goodbye now...“ She said
“Bye!” Wocky said.
Flower meanings, huh? I oughta research them a bit more. Them meanings... I wonder if I could impress ‘er with them? Yeah! That’s gotta be my next move! I’m gonna turn my life around, I won’ need any o’ my parents’ money!
The rest of the day went exactly the same, just some boring guys window shopping and the occasional sale here and there. But to Wocky, none of that mattered. None of that mattered when Vera was coming to his shop daily at this rate, buying up his flowers, and talking with him. A miracle had struck Wocky, and he did not intend to simply sit on it.
Life went on as normal after those 2 days. Wocky didn’t see Vera for a while. It had been about 2 weeks since Vera first came in on that fateful Saturday, and Wocky had not only lost all hope, but his return to normalcy made him very uncomfortable. It was as if those 2 days had simply been erased from the universe, and everything carried on like normal.
Wocky was in love; he certainly didn’t intend to simply sit there and do nothing, yet that is what he did. When Wednesday evening rolled around, he noticed the lack of Vera, of course. And when she never appeared, he simply thought that she may crop up tomorrow. Of course, that is also what he thought would happen the next day, as well as the day after that, and the day after that one... Day by day, he simply waited for something to happen, which didn’t happen. His days were filled with the dreary rain and strangers window shopping.
He considered booking an appointment at Vera’s tattoo parlour, but every time his nerves overcame him. He got a text from somebody, or there was a good TV show about to come on, or something else, and he ran away from opportunity. The door sat there, simply waiting to be opened, yet Wocky found every excuse to look away from that door. Why? Because the last time he tried love, the last time... it had ended in heartbreak.
And so, Wocky held himself in stasis. This was yet another depressing side effect of the events that had happened to him in years past, and now Wocky was angry. Why had life given him the short straw? Why must people incessantly kick him while he’s down? Why did he even start this business? Why did he abandon his parents? Things were safer back at home; things were simpler back at home...
Why did Wocky do this to himself? Why did he subject himself to this torment; this visceral, monotonous, Sisyphean, arduous, recursive-
Wocky didn’t have time to beat himself up while the world was already doing that for him. No... Another customer was coming... No, he didn’t care anymore. The customer could roam in and thrash the whole place, steal everything and hold him at gunpoint. Every ounce of matter that cared about Vera Misham or Wocky Kitaki had evaporated from his flesh. He felt as if he were a cellular automaton, only reacting to events that were happening around him.
Oh, now the customer was coming up to him. Time to engage in protocol: “pretend to be fine.” Wait no… that is not what Wocky wanted to do. Wocky didn’t want to perpetuate this charade. Wocky was having a shitty time, and he was going to fucking let that be known. No more fake smiles. No more small talk. Just give me my fucking money and leave.
The customer wasn’t a regular, Wocky had never seen them before. It didn’t matter. The customer was buying some flowers, and Wocky barely even thought to look at them, before realizing he would have to count the flowers for pricing. Still, a cursory glance at the flowers revealed them to be dandelions. Whatever, that didn’t really matter. $12 was charged; $12 was given; $12 in the cash register.
Wocky was finally relieved to see the end of his opening hours. Now he could finally pack up and leave and go home to... to do what, exactly? Probably just watch more things on his phone, he surmised. The thought of booking an appointment with Vera crossed his mind, but he ruled it out due to previous reasonings. Why? Why was he subject to the universe’s torture? Well, surely it mustn’t only be him? But, he and he alone was probably the only person being taunted by the universe like this, so Wocky waited.
He waited a day
Days turned into weeks
Nothing changed.
Wocky Woke up. It was January now, and Wocky had definitely not forgotten about Vera, yet her candle didn’t burn as strongly in his mind. Instead, other more prominent candles in his life took precedence, such as rent or what he was going to eat for dinner tonight. One by one, these candles were to burn brighter and brighter, taking up Vera’s candle, until...
Wocky didn’t let that burden him. It was good to forget about the universe’s torment of him, after all. Yet, the universe wasn’t letting that candle go out on its own.
Wocky went into the store as normal. More cloudy days were upon him, yet no rain appeared. Things progressed normally; not smoothly, but normally. The scent of flowers overwhelmed Wocky, and he just wanted a break. He wanted to run away into the forest and not be seen for at least 4 months, or cause a coronal mass ejection so that the world would be without electricity and people could finally feel pain.
That’s when she came in.
For a moment, everything in Wocky’s world stopped. The constant smell of flowers dissipated, the clouds outside shrinked to the point of insignificance, the vibrant splendor of the flowers became monochromatic, the pots on the outer rim all disappeared into a deep, dark void, and the rug was enveloped by the rest of the floorboards. What Wocky was seeing may have been an approximation of the actual sight before him, but it did not matter, as this approximation contained the one thing in the universe that actually enthused him.
“... Hi, Wocky.” Vera said
“Oh! Wassup?” Wocky quickly choked out.
“... I was looking for some advice... advice on which flowers to buy as a gift for somebody else... “
“A gift? What kind?” Wocky asked, realization not dawning on him yet.
“Oh, um... “ Vera’s voice dropped lower. “As a... romantic gift?”
Of course. Of course this was happening. Of course the universe was giving him false hope only to snatch it away at the very last second. Life was not done toying with him yet, of course. Wocky had gained hope, only for the universe to tear it out of his body.
Still... she was a customer. A customer he must serve.
“Oh... uh, well roses gotta be the best option!”
“Roses... ?” She said.
“Yeah, uh, course! How could a G confess their love without roses?”
“... I see then. Thank you... I think I will get some... purple roses. Alongside red carnations... “ She said.
“Alright then! That’s uh, that’s gonna be $12!” Wocky choked out. Vera then began to fiddle with her purse as she attempted to reach for the money. Once she got the money, she handed it over to Wocky; payment from the universe for the torture he had succumbed to. And a part of Wocky began to think that perhaps, maybe, this torture experiment that the universe had put him through was worthwhile. After all, he did gain $36 from it. That was $36 dollars towards rent, and in this economy... that was a very valuable thing.
“Alright... “ Vera seemed to look at him intently. “Goodbye, Wocky.” She said
“Peace!” Wocky shouted out at her as she began to leave. Heh, the idealization of his love was even nice, for a while. But it was over now. Everything was over now. Maybe she’ll buy more flowers from him? More recompense from the universe? Wocky was unsure of all but one thing: Vera was never going to be in love with him. Who would even like him?
So Wocky’s shift continued as normal. Wocky began to close up shop, when a letter came at his door.
Who even sends letters to me? I literally have an email. Whatever, I could get it I guess.
The letter was a mere inconvenience to Wocky, a hurdle on the path to finally closing up shop and going home to do more of what he usually did. Yet this mere “hurdle” was actually a hurricane in disguise. Wocky brought the letter over the till and began to cut it open with his fingers.
Inside of the letter were two things. First: a note, yet that is not what caught Wocky’s eyes first. No, what caught Wocky’s eyes were the flowers that were included in the letter: purple roses and red carnations.