Maria’s late granny used to plant a rose bush every birthday. When Mariia returned to her grandmother’s home three years after her passing, she was astonished to see three new rose bushes in a shade of pink. Someone continued planting them! That was just the beginning…
Maria pushed open the creaky gate and stepped into the familiar garden, her heart swelling with nostalgia. The scents of fresh earth and blooming flowers greeted her, whispering memories of days spent with her grandmother.
Despite her three-year absence, the garden flourished, its paths were clear, and the bushes were pruned as if a mysterious stranger had been caring for them.
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Suddenly, Maria’s eyes caught three new rose bushes vibrant against the green, nestled in a corner that had once been just grass and wildflowers.
Her grandmother had a tradition: every year, on her birthday, she would plant a new rose bush in this garden. Maria was puzzled at the sight of these new additions.
“Who could have planted these?” She traced the petals of a pink rose, dew sparkling under the morning sun.
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Curiosity tugged at her, pulling her towards her neighbor’s house. Often found lounging on his porch, Sam watched the world go by with minimal interest. As Maria approached, Sam’s lazy gaze lifted from his newspaper.
“Morning, Maria! Back from your travels, I see,” Sam called out, a lazy smile on his face.
“Morning, Sam,” Maria replied, her tone curious. “I noticed someone taking care of the garden while I was away. Do you know anything about it?”
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Sam scratched his head, his expression revealing nothing but disinterest.
“Oh, that? Yeah, some kid comes around with a key. Been coming every year, right around your grandma’s birthday. Plants a new rose bush, he does.”
Maria tilted her head, a frown knitting her brow.
“A kid? Do you know who he is? I didn’t arrange for anyone to care for the garden.”
“Nah,” Sam yawned, stretching his arms. “Quiet boy doesn’t talk much. Just does his thing and leaves. Thought maybe you knew him, had him looking after the place.”
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Maria’s mind raced with questions. Who was this mysterious boy, and why would he tend to her grandmother’s garden?
It was heartwarming yet mystifying. The connection to her grandmother’s birthday suggested it wasn’t just a random act of kindness.
“Thanks, Sam,” Maria said, giving him a small smile as she left. “I’ll have to find out who this boy is.”
Her grandmother had always said, “Every flower has its caretaker, and every caretaker has their story.” It was time to discover his.
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***
On the eve of her grandmother’s birthday, Maria discreetly observed who might come to the garden. She nestled herself quietly on the old wooden bench by the garden gate.
As the sun rose, a young boy with unkempt hair and a wary look entered the garden. He was about thirteen and of a slight build. In his hands, he carried a young rose bush, its roots carefully wrapped in burlap.
Maria’s breath caught as she watched him. This had to be the boy Sam mentioned. She stepped forward as he started to dig a small hole in the earth. His movements froze, and he looked poised to run for a moment.
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“Wait, please!” Maria called out gently, not wanting to frighten him further. “I just want to talk.”
The boy hesitated, his eyes flicking towards the gate as if calculating his escape.
“I’m Maria. My grandmother used to live here. I see you’re planting new roses. Why are you doing this?” she approached.
The boy’s shoulders relaxed slightly.
“I… I promised someone I would,” he clutched a small, worn backpack closer to his chest. Maria noticed a tag with an address on it.
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“Is this yours?” she asked, pointing to the backpack.
The boy nodded, and Maria knew the address was for the local orphanage.
“I’m Tony,” he introduced himself shyly.
“Tony,” Maria repeated, smiling warmly. “I saw how carefully you tend the garden. My grandmother would have loved that.”
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Tony looked up, a spark of interest in his eyes.
“Your grandmother… she was like a mother to me,” he confessed. “She used to visit the orphanage. Granny told us stories and brought us cookies. She made me promise to look after her garden if she… when she couldn’t.”
Moved by his words, Maria suggested, “Would you like to finish planting the new bush together?”
***
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As they dug around the new planting spot, their trowel struck something hard. They unearthed a small metal capsule, rusted but still intact. Inside, they found a paper—it was a will.
“‘To whoever finds this,’” Maria read aloud, “‘and has taken care of my garden, know that I am grateful beyond words. This is for you.’”
Her voice trembled with emotion as she looked at Tony, who was staring at the will.
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“I didn’t know about this,” Tony whispered. “I just wanted to keep my promise.”
Maria smiled, “You did more than just keep a promise, Tony.”
As they sat there, absorbed in their discovery, Tony reached out to touch the rose bush but accidentally nicked his finger on a thorn.
“Ouch!” he exclaimed, dropping the will on the ground.
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“Let’s get that cleaned up,” Maria said, quickly leading him inside the house.
A shadowy figure watched from behind the fence, eyes glinting with greed. As soon as Maria and Tony disappeared into the house, the figure slipped into the garden, snatching up the will before vanishing as quickly as he had appeared.
When Maria and Tony returned, the will was gone.
“It was right here,” she said, scanning the area frantically.
Tony’s face fell.
“What are we going to do?” he asked, looking up at Maria with wide, fearful eyes.
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***
After discovering the will was missing, Maria hurried to the local police station. She was met by a stern officer who happened to be Sam’s cousin. He listened as she explained the situation, but he remained skeptical.
“The will was right there in the garden, and then it vanished,” she told him with frustration.
“Mr. Sam Sparkson has lived next door for years, claims he found the will, and has been taking care of the garden,” he explained.
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“Since you’ve been away since your grandmother’s death and no one else has seen this boy you’re talking about, it’s tough to just take your word over Sam’s. Besides, I know Sam well; he’s family. We need undeniable proof if you’re going to challenge his claim as the caretaker.”
Maria left the police station feeling defeated, her mind racing for a solution. She couldn’t let her grandmother’s last wishes be so easily manipulated. The garden wasn’t just a patch of land but a legacy of love and care.
She gathered the locals. Armed with gardening tools and several of the rose bushes from her grandmother’s garden, the villagers followed her to Sam’s yard.
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Maria stepped forward, her gaze fixed on Sam, chilling on the porch.
“Sam, since you claim to have been caring for my grandmother’s garden, please show us how you plant and maintain these rose bushes,” she challenged, gesturing to the tools and plants before him.
Sam hesitated, a bead of sweat trickling down his forehead. He picked up a spade with clumsy hands, his movements uncertain and awkward.
The crowd watched in silent judgment as he approached a pot that held a fern, not a rose bush. Murmurs of disbelief spread through the crowd as he dug around the wrong plant.
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Maria turned to the onlookers.
“Does that look like the handiwork of a gardener?” she asked softly, the answer clear to all.
Just then, Tony stepped forward. With gentle confidence, he picked up the correct tools and approached one of the rose bushes.
The villagers leaned in as Tony handled the plant with care and expertise, his actions smooth and practiced. He planted the rose bush back into the pot, and his technique was flawless and assured.
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“As you can see, Tony knows exactly what he’s doing. He has been the true caretaker of my grandmother’s garden,” Maria announced, her voice strong and clear.
The crowd erupted in support, their voices blending into a chorus of disapproval towards Sam.
“Give them the will, Sam! It’s only fair!” someone shouted from the back.
With a reluctant sigh, Sam retrieved the will from his pocket and handed it to Maria. The villagers cheered, clapping Tony on the back and praising Maria for her determination.
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“Thank you, everyone. This isn’t just a victory for us but for my grandmother’s memory and her wishes,” Maria addressed the crowd, her voice thick with emotion.
The community’s support didn’t end there. They gathered around Maria and Tony, discussing plans to enhance the local shelters and maintain the garden as a community project.
***
In the small office of the local courthouse, Maria sat across from Tony. The judge had just signed the official papers, and Maria was now Tony’s legal guardian.
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“Tony, how do you feel about us working together on the garden and helping the shelters, just like my grandmother would have wanted?” Maria asked.
Tony’s eyes lit up, his smile wide.
“I think it’s awesome, Maria! We can plant more roses and maybe even start a vegetable patch?”
Maria laughed, nodding enthusiastically.
“That sounds perfect! We can also use some vegetables to help feed people at the shelters. What do you think?”
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“That would be amazing! Can we start this weekend?” Tony bounced slightly in his seat, eager.
“Absolutely,” Maria confirmed, her heart swelling with pride and joy. “We’ll make a plan together. It will be great, not just for us, but for all the habitants here.”
The locals gathered outside as they left the courthouse, clapping and cheering for them. Maria and Tony felt they were ready to create new traditions together.
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