Scarlet Dallas: A Short Story

"The Chrysanthemums" introduces us to Elisa Allen, a woman who knows she has a gift for growing things, but it seems to be limited to her garden. Diligently working in her garden, Elisa watches as men come and go, living their lives unconfined, wondering what it must feel like to have that freedom. That emotion is revealed as Elisa gases at her husband and acquaintances talking, "she looked down toward the men by the tractor shed now and then." As she tills the soil for her chrysanthemums Elisa tills the thoughts in her head. The garden she so desperately maintained represents her world. A world that will only flourish if nourished. Emotional nourishment and stimulation is what Elisa lacked and longed for. The garden is limited in space to grow and so is her marriage. The garden is safe, non-threatening and so is her world. The garden contains many different elements that make it what it is, although unseen, and if the proper nourishment is not given it will die, as with Elisa.

Hester’s heart fell as the realization of her situation washed down upon her. “I don't rightly know sir.” After traveling a short ways they finally reached the woman’s small cottage which was nearly as beautiful as her. Delicately growing ivy climbed it's way up the walls and wild flowers grew at the base of the cottage. The only thing that could draw away from the magnificent scene was the dark, grisly weeds surrounding the wild flowers.

"~I'll talk to you later~" She dropped her arm and the A.I dissipated. I shook my head and looked to Smithy.

She closes the window, straightens her body with an effort and turns around to her children”. Mama is known for putting the family first and this quote found In the book shows her putting her family before her as seen in the book in the final act. In addition, Mama uses the plant as a symbol of the family as it grows and unifies to become one strong family

Scarlet Jane used to live an ordinary life. She was a straight-A student, a star basketball player, a loving and devoted daughter.

Elisa tends her garden with care and finds happiness and strength in it. Figuratively speaking, it takes the place of the children she does not have; it defines her sexuality and femininity. She cares for her flowers so delicately and motherly, placing a “wire fence that protected her flower garden”. This wire fence symbolizes her isolation from the rest of the world as well as her closed off heart towards her husband. Elisa waits for the time when she will be

The flower girls community shows a sense of compassion and love. Where she lives and the people around her prove that there is the possibility to love. Unlike in the millionaires world, her world, may it be small, is large with friendliness. As she walks into the courtyard and is greeted by the two young girls, this shows that the people in her community have a good relationship. Another thing she hears is a couple about to go on a date.

“I didn’t much like that lady, so now we don’t have to listen to her prattle while we complete the game,” whispered Jesse with a giggle.

“The gardener swiftly slit the throats of the flowers, knotting them into compact batches. Their petals spilled down to the floor in clusters of ebony, ivory and crimson.”

Amile smirked, “So it’s we now?” I rolled my eyes. “Sure, Nancy Drew, I’d love to have lunch with you.” I felt the blood rush to my face and had to turn

“And you have answered your own question, Ruby.” Rei calmly answered, not wanting to upset the girl anymore. “Think over your words carefully again.”

Her heart fluttered at the sight of cherry blossom trees, white and pink petals swayed gently, the most beautiful sight in Seireitei. How many decades had passed since she laid her eyes at the small garden, now turned into forest, a secret safe haven from the stuffy and demanding Kuchiki elders.

"The Chrysanthemums" introduces us to Elisa Allen, a woman who knows she has a gift for things, but can't make more use of it than to grow her chrysanthemums. She is trapped in the Salinas Valley, where winter's fog sits "like a lid...and [makes] the great valley a closed pot." Her human nature has made her complacent in ordinary life, but the short glimmers of hope offered by her flowers and a passing stranger reveal that there is more to Elisa than her garden. Her environment may be keeping her inside her small garden, but inside her heart there is a longing for more.

“ Okay, I was just making sure.” They later arrived at a local Starbucks where they stopped to have coffee and a little snack to eat. Shelby having a blast sitting and talking about

"You heard she want to be an actress?" Tea said. "She got into the performing arts college."