Welcome to Gaia! ::

Nanette bobbed around the shop cheerily, her pale rose colored apron flecked with tiny particles of the warm, loamy potting soil. Her long, slender fingers gently wrapped themselves around the stems of some newly blossoming gardenias, where the lifted them gently, the buds shuddering lightly like a newborn babe giving it's first cry.

Nanette's emerald eyes twinkled lovingly as she helped the blossoms nestle into their new windowbox seat, where they would bask in the sunlight. She pivoted slowly on the balls of her feet while taking in the smell her precious bells gave off.

Nanette swirled gracefully, her golden hair falling around her face. Her face was long and she had high cheekbones, somewhat resembling an elvish-looking creature. She smiled warmly, her eyes twinkling with a gracious welcome.

"Ah, Bonjour! Welcome to ze fluer shop! I am Nanette Vurre, please, how do you say, eh, make yourself at home!"

She nodded to her first guest and beckoned her with open arms.

Nanette nodded paying close attention to the seemingly full-of-life, vivacious redhead. She glanced down at the girl's hand with a quizzical, puzzled smile, but reached out towards the odd custom with a hesitant hand. Though, when she looked at her hand, Nanette smiled sheepishly and wiped the thick potting soil off onto her apron before making contact.

" 'Sheila?' Oh, zat is a beautiful name. Well, thank you kindly for zis eh, information. I will look into eet. Please, pardon ze mess, I haven't had much of a chance to, eh, tidy up. Please accept zis as a gift for being my first guest!"

Nanette picked up a pot bearing a bouquet of beatiful, colorful, tropical flowers, and the aroma nearly matched the appearance, maybe even surpassed it.

(Picture of the bouquet: http://www.trishasroses.com/images/island_bouquet.jpg )

Nanette curtseyed politely and flashed a quick, but grateful smile. Life in this new, strange town was finally beginning to look up ever since... the disaster.

"Oh, thank you, very much! I do not know, how I can eh, repay you for ze kindness you have shown me. Please, make yourself welcome here anytime you wish! "

Nanette's stomach lurched with excitement as the young spokesgirl rounded the corner, disappearing among the hedges that lined the small wooden shack. After spinning 'round a couple times, she burried her face in a large transparent vase of long-stemmed white daisies, taking in the aroma enthusiastically, as if the blooms were a long-lost form of cocaine.

Nanette backed away, feeling slightly woozy. The feeling was probably induced by a combination of a fast intake of pollen and an emotional, happy feeling of comfort at last.

Nanette spun around quickly in shock, wiping away the yellow pollen that rested around her nose. She placed her hand on her hip and leaned against the counter trying to seem professional, but her attempt at a more suave demeanor failed.

When she looked down at the boy, she grinned.

So many redheads in this town! What a precious child.

Nanette sifted through the coins on the counter, but found only fifty six cents. She smiled reluctantly, and scooped the coins up and placed them back in his hands.

"Zere is a Valentine's day special of a free bouquet of roses for ze first five cutsomers."

She turned, and plucked a freshly cut bouquet of deep purple roses off the wall, easing them into the boy's arms.

Aylen held back an urge to laugh as the startled shopkeeper made a hasty effort to regain her composure. However, that feeling quickly dissipated when she handed his meager offerings back. Aylen fought back disappointment rising in his stomach. He had hoped to buy one flower at least. Maybe he was better off picking wildflowers instead.

However, in an unexpected movement by Nanette, he found not one or two, but an entire bouquet in his arms. Free bouquet of roses for the first five customers, he heard her say. A smile spread on his face, though it was half-hidden by the purple flowers. "Thank you," came a muffled voice from behind the plants.

He finally had flowers to lay upon his parents' graves. But somehow, it didn't seem to mean as much if he had gotten the roses for free.

A bell on the door rang, indicating the redhead's departure. Next to the cash register was fifty-six cents exactly.