The House Plant: A Short Story – Jeremy Ray

Abstract: Brenda simply wished a houseplant to take care of. The fern had different plans.

George, a fern, does not respect being purchased by Brenda at Backyard Palace. And he actually does not respect being trapped in her home of people. He years to be with the crops outdoors within the backyard. With time, George learns to belief Brenda and consider her as his human. Then someday, tragedy strikes and George’s life won’t ever be the identical.

What occurs when a houseplant loses the factor he by no means knew he wished?

You will by no means have a look at houseplants the identical means once more.

My Evaluation: Should you’ve been round right here for greater than a minute, you’ve got in all probability seen my pretty glowing evaluations of Jeremy Ray’s Little E-book of Tiny Tales (Volumes I and II). Since I’ve run by these, I made a decision to discover extra of his writing and was drawn to The Home Plant: A Brief Story. I am keen on an uncommon narrator — simply ask the octopus who stole the present in Remarkably Vivid Creatures — and this story is narrated by a home plant. A fern, actually. I used to be helpless to withstand.

The Home Plant tells the story of a homely fern, bought from the plant retailer by a lady named Brenda, who takes him house . To the fern’s abject horror, she units him inside, somewhat than planting him within the floor outdoors the place he has lengthy aspired to place down roots and ‘frond’ with the opposite flora. The plant is satisfied that Brenda intends to homicide him — she’s not a inexperienced thumb — and for some time his survival is touch-and-go. As time passes, the fern will get a reputation (George) and involves see Brenda in a brand new gentle. Then the unthinkable occurs.

My favourite a part of this brief story was George’s extremely distinctive perspective. I really like the thought of a houseplant with persona and George, who’s considerably cynical and curmudgeonly, has one in spades. I will not spoil how the story ends, however I assumed this not-so-meet-cute between George and Brenda was tender, hilarious, and heartwarming — like a Pixar brief in e book type. What occurs after ‘the unthinkable,’ was compelling in its personal proper. All collectively, it was a real pleasure.

Now, due to The Home Plant, I will not have the ability to cease myself from personifying flowers. I’ve a precisely one home plant and I’m virtually sure its giving me side-eye.

My Score: 4.25 Stars

For the Delicate Reader: All clear.