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 Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 6:22 am
Lisi fumbled through the front door, keys in one hand and a messenger bag full of books in the other. Immediately she was bombarded with the exuberant greetings of her dogs, all swarming around her legs with glee at her return.
"Yes, yes, I missed you all as well," she said, laughing despite her fatigue. "Now would you let me get in the door, please?" Shimmying away as best she could, she managed to nudge the front door closed with her foot and make it across the room to her desk, where she was finally able to unload her tired arms of the heavy bag. A loud thud, and numerous hardcover books spilled out across her desk.
She longed to sit down at her desk, crack open some books and examine the interesting specimen she had discovered on her way home, but her dogs simply would not let her relax just yet; having been cooped up inside all day, they were pleading for her attention.
Lisi sighed then, blowing the bangs away from her eyes and rubbing her sore muscles. "Alright, alright, let's go outside." Hearing that beloved word, Waltz and the rest of the blue canines preceded her to the back door, whining, wagging tails and tongues.
Lisi went outside with them and closed the door behind her. As soon as she was gone, the little leaf that she had enclosed in a hardbound book quivered and struggled, trapped between the pages.
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Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:01 am
Lisi sat on the bench on her back porch, watching Blythe, Ciel and Waltz chase each other around the yard as Precious sat calmly by her side, head in her lap. She stroked his fur idly and couldn't help but let her mind wander.
It had only been by chance that she had decided to check out Benjamen's Big Book of Botany from the Mid-Continental Public Library, where she worked. There was something affecting her petunias and making them wilt; she thought she might take the book home, do some reading, and try to fix the problem herself.
But then on the way home, her messenger bag full of titles like The Greenthumb's Guide to Garden Varieties, she had decided to take the scenic route home - the path that followed the a stream the neighborhood called Brushy Creek. Riding along this path, she had just happened to glance down and notice this little green leaf, caught in some reeds on the water's edge.
There was something about this leaf. Some kind of instinct that called her to get off her bike, navigate the slippery, muddy slope down to the creek bank, and reach perilously across the water to retrieve it. The normally quite unadventurous librarian didn't know what possessed her to do such a thing. There was different about this leaf, however; something that gave her these feelings of excitement and curiosity.
What if it is a new species? she thought. Some kind of rare, undiscovered plant. I could be the first to identify it!
No, she wasn't a botanist, or a scientist of any kind. She had no formal training except for the hundreds and hundreds of books she read. And she didn't want fame or fortune, either. But she loved biology, plants especially, and her mind longed for enlightenment more than any other thing.
The mild-mannered assistant librarian usually prided herself on her ability to call each plant by name. And this leaf didn't seem to be of any species of tree, bush or vine that grew locally.
There is something about you, little leaf, Lisi thought, swaying gently back and forth on the porch swing. And I simply cannot wait to discover your secret.
Finally, her canine quartet had tired themselves out and were ready to retreat back inside to the air-conditioning and their respective napping places. Lisi stood, stretched, and shepherded her four barking children back into the house.
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Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:29 am
With her dogs' pent-up energy well spent, Lisi fixed herself a tomato and wheat bread sandwich, refilled the dogs' water bowls for the eleventh time, and was finally able to retreat to her little office and get to work.
Sitting down, one hand holding her sandwich, Lisi cracked open the heavy volume to retrieve the unidentified leaf specimen from where she had wedged it between the pages for safekeeping. The little leaf was still there, safe and sound and intact. But the moment it was free, it seemed to leap into the air in celebration and with an energy leaves don't typically display. It landed softly back on the page and lay still.
Lisi's bespectacled blue eyes blinked at it. That leaf didn't just...? No, no. It had just been caught in a breeze, that's all. The breeze created by the sudden rush of air that had occurred by opening the heavy book. That's all. Completely normal. You're losing it, Lisi, she told herself laughingly.
Still, Lisi watched it skeptically a few minutes more.
Satisfied then that her leaf wasn't going to do leap off the table and fly away, Lisi adjusted her glasses and reached into her bag to retrieve a small, leather-bound notebook. Flipping open to a page marked by a faded ribbon, Lisi picked up a pencil in one hand and the leaf in the other, and began to write.The Journal of L. Larkin Friday, Mid September, 2007 I happened upon an unidentifable leaf specimen today. It was floating in a creek near my house...I'm not sure how long. It still seems green and alive, and so I believe it had not been in the water long, for surely it would have begun to lose its color. Luckily, it is still fresh, and hopefully will remain so long enough for me to identify it. It has a smooth surface, apparently from a plant of a deciduous nature, tear-drop shaped without any teeth. From the books I've read, there are no trees around here with leaves of this description. The closest species I can tell is a flowering dogwood - but I know what those leaves look like, and this isn't the same. Having only one leaf, and not a branch, is also making this identification difficult. I'll keep looking, however. The answer must be in one of these books somewhere. I'm not so sure why I have this urge to understand this thing and take care of it. I feel almost like it is speaking to me without words...reaching out to me with its emotions. Ah, that's not very scientific at all, I know. Part of me wants to believe, however...that there's something sentient about this leaf. I want to take care of it, and maybe if I do...I'll find out its secret.
Once more she held the leaf in her hand, examining it with curious eyes. What are you? she thought. The leaf gave no reply, but seemed to twitch - that must just be the wind again.
Sighing, she stood up, leaf in hand, and carefully placed the leaf on a nearby bookshelf, out of reach of her dogs or anything else that may harm it. "I'll come back and check on you later," Lisi told the leaf. "Don't you go anywhere."
Lisi backed away, picked up her empty plate, and went into the kitchen to do the dishes.
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Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 5:33 pm
It was morning - a Saturday, her day off. Lisi wasn't one to sleep in; she woke with the sun and went straight to her office bookshelf to check on her little green friend.
Standing on her tiptoes to reach the high shelf, she picked up the leaf and gasped. "Oh, no!"
It was limp, no longer shiny...Lisi could feel a cry for help as soon as she touched it. "What is it..? What do you need?"
Suddenly she was afraid. What had she done? Could her leaf be saved? Lisi didn't know why she was so suddenly panicked, but something told her this was really, very important. It wasn't just a science experiment anymore...she needed to take care of this leaf.
A thought came to her. Running to the kitchen, nearly tripping over Ciel, Lisi retrieved a cup from the cupboard, filled it with water, and dropped her leaf into it. "Please be okay," she murmured, kneeling down to watch it.
Immediately, she felt a sense of contentment emanating from the leaf. Lisi let out a sigh of relief. "Of course you need water," she said out loud, frustrated with herself. "I should have known that."
But still, something wasn't exactly right. The leaf, she wanted something more. Lisi could feel it, like a word on the tip of her tongue. "What is it?" she whispered, actually leaning over and putting her ear closer to the glass. "What else do you need?"
Of course, Lisi didn't hear anything. Leaves can't talk, she thought laughingly, feeling foolish. What am I doing? Standing back upright again, Lisi's eyes happened to settle on a salt shaker...and suddenly it came to her.
"You want salt in your water?" she asked the leaf incredulosly. "That's not right! Plants don't like salt water!"
And yet, if the emotions she was receiving from the leaf were to be trusted, this plant certainly did.The Journal of L. Larkin Saturday, Mid-September, 2007 Leaf update: Upon waking this morning, I discovered that the leaf had begun to droop and look sick. Fearing for its demise - irrational, I know; leaves aren't supposed to live long on their own - I placed it in a jar of water which is now sitting in front of me. It seems to be recovering slowly. This makes sense, of course, but even more so considering the fact that I found it in a body of water. Perhaps it is from some strange kind of aquatic plant? It seems strange - the leaf's shape is most certainly of a deciduous nature. This continues to be of interest. On another interesting note: The leaf now seems to prefer salt water. This is of course radically strange, as hardly any plants can survive in saltwater. Other than Mangrove trees, I cannot think of any that prefer it. This cannot be a Mangrove - they do not live in this hemisphere at all! Many more strange things have been occurring lately, and I am beginning to wonder if something fishy isn't going on. One more thing: the leaf is exhibiting many non-leaf-like behaviors....such as independent movement.
Lisi scribbled this last line without looking at the words her pencil wrote. Her eyes were transfixed, staring into the glass...for her leaf was now swimming merrily around the circumference of its cup.
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Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2007 8:21 pm
Shouko smiled as she placed a small orange flower pout on the porch of an old Victorian house. Inside the pit was a small bag of soil and attached with some clear tape was a note. It wasn't much really, 3 small ordinairy objects but they were key to the growth of another eden and shouko was proud to have delivered them.
Walking away she wondered what would grow from this leaf. Would they be animal or plantlike like herself?. strong or weak and would they become a friend or not. Either way the child, when they arrived would be welcomes as a fellow eden.
The note attached to the pot reads
Quote: Dear Lisi, I'm not sure if you've heard of us yet, but we're an organization called Eden Project. The leaf you have found is a very special one. It will grow into a child if you take care of it. I know it sounds strange, but that's how it goes. To start the growing process you need to plant the little one. That's why I've attached a flowerpot and the soil. Every leaf seems to react different to this so please be gentle. Feel free to visit our headquarters near Barton Town if you have any questions or concerns.. Have a nice day ~ Shouko
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Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 5:46 am
It was Monday before Lisi walked through her front door again to leave for work; she hardly leaves the house unless necessary. As usual, her hands were full of books and she very nearly tripped over the unseen pot as she stepped through the door.
"Ouch! What the...?" Lisi dropped her bag onto a bench on the porch and inspected the strange thing. It was obviously a flower pot - fairly common, she had used pots like it many times before. Wondering why a pot filled with soil would be left on her doorstep, Lisi finally noticed the note. Picking it up and adjusting her glasses accordingly, she read it over quickly.
...Eden Project...? Who was that? Were they spying on her? How did they know she had found a special leaf? ...A child?! Lisi didn't know how to raise a child! This seemed similar to the situation that happened when she bought those fuzzy slippers and they grew into living dogs...but a child was so much different than a dog.
Head spinning, Lisi brought the pot inside and placed it on her desk, next to her leaf. She had to leave for work, there was no getting around it. She would plant the leaf later, after work. Hopefully she could spend the day wrapping her brain around the possibility of raising a child....from a leaf.
Shaking her head in wonder, her thoughts swirling like a hurricane, Lisi stepped back outside, climbed onto her bike, and pedaled slowly to the library.
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Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 12:44 pm
Lisi came home that day with a clear head and an open mind - all day, she had been antsy to get home. There was a mystery going on here, a secret to unlock, and she was so close to finding out what would happen once she planted the leaf. She had always enjoyed her quiet, slow job at the library, and had never wished herself home so much as she had today.
Waltz, Blythe, and the rest of the canine quartet rushed to the door for their customary greeting, and Lisi took them outside as usual to run around and expend their energy. On her way out the door, she picked up the pot full of dirt, the note left by the mysterious Shouko of the Eden Project, and of course, Caprice.
Lisi had spent all of Sunday observing the leaf after placing it in the cup of salt water, and it had nearly come alive. Swimming like a fish, even jumping in and out of the water - it was miraculous and strange and even fun to watch. In so short a time she had become close to little thing - it was alive to her. So much so that she had spent all day today thinking of a name for her.
"Caprice" was an Italian word - Lisi's favorite language besides English - that mean fanciful and unpredictable, two words that fit the leaf to a tee. And now that it seemed - if this note was to be believed - that it would grow into an actual child...and so she needed a name.
Lisi scooped up the happily-swimming leaf and before she could wriggled away and back into the safety of the water, Lisi gentle nudged her into the rich soil of the pot. Immediately she could feel the unhappiness emanating from Caprice. She didn't like be stuck in the dirt. Lisi, trying to make her feel a little more at home, sprinkled saltwater droplets over and around the soil. The malcontent abated only a little, and Lisi could feel Reese's pent-up energy, struggling to be expressed.
Lisi frowned. "I'm sorry, Reesey," she said. "I know you like the water. But think this will do you good."
Trying to make her more comfortable, Lisi soaked the soil in the remaining water. Caprice wiggled a bit, and then was still.
Once Lisi believed her to be settled, she sat back on the bench on the back porch, opened her journal, and began to write.
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Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 2:12 pm
The Journal of L. Larkin First Day of October, 2007 By now I have given up trying to understand the leaf or its origins; it amazes me how easily I have accepted the strangeness of everything surrounding this leaf that I found only a few days ago. This morning as I was leaving for the library, I discovered that a terra cotta pot filled with soil and a note had been left on my porch. I have no idea when it came or who dropped it off, but the writer seemed to know me and my leaf, and even gave advice on how to plant it. Seems strange to plant a leaf in a biological sense - but so many things have been strange for the past few days. This is the closest thing to normal that has happened so far! I have decided I am going to plant the leaf, as the note suggests, though I am not sure Caprice will like being out of the water. Still, I believe this is the best course of action, and if Caprice becomes too dry or unhappy, then I will simply commit myself to watering her as often as necessary. The note also mentions a place called "Eden Project" that is located in the next town over. After I plant Caprice, I plan to find a way to get there with her and find out what this is all about. I'm afraid I may need to find alternate means of transportation, as riding a bicycle while trying to balance a flower pot on one's head may be a recipe for disaster. One more thing...if the note is to be believed, and I don't see why it shouldn't be...Caprice will grow into a child if I care for her properly. This boggles my mind of course; raising dogs that don't speak or eat is one thing, but a child? So much responsibility... and yet a part of me is so excited. I can't wait to teach her, read to her, show her all the beautiful things of the world....I only hope I won't need to learn how to change a diaper...
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Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 2:59 pm
Lisi looked up from the journal in her lap, realizing the dogs had long gotten worn out and were now laying all around her feet. She laughed. "You guys," she complained. "How am I supposed to get to the door?"
Standing up, navigating her way around the resting bodies of the four blue dogs trying to find an empty space to place her feet, Lisi picked up the Caprice's pot. As soon as her fingers touched the red terra cotta, Lisi felt Reese's unhappiness grow stronger. Inspecting the little leaf that was above the soil, Lisi was shocked to see that she was already drying out.
Hurrying back into the house while trying to avoid tripping on dogs underfoot, Lisi brought Caprice into the kitchen. She held the pot under a slow-dripping faucet for a few moments until the soil was thoroughly soaked, when she was sure Caprice was out of immediate danger.
"Goodness," she murmured, looking at the little leaf. "I hope when you grow up you won't be so dependent on water."
No way could Lisi keep up with Caprice's demands for water - no matter how attentive she was. So Lisi got a mixing bowl from the cupboard, filled it with tap water, and mixed in some salt. She placed the pot inside the bowl so it would be half-submerged all the time. "I hope this helps," Lisi told the leaf.
"And I hope you grow up soon...for both our sakes." She didn't know if she could handle the stress already. Always worrying about whether or not Caprice was watered enough was bad. Feeling her helplessness and her desire to move around while she was stuck in the dirt wasn't nice, either.
This was hard already. And Caprice was still just a leaf!
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Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 2:16 pm
Caprice, while usually active, is positively jumping today. She has already made several ill-advised attempts to leap right out of her pot and a strange darkening pattern has begun to appear on her. What's going on?
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Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:13 pm
Lisi had been sitting on the couch in the family room that evening, rereading one of her favorite books and generally just enjoying a peaceful night at home. The dogs were already in their napping places, except for Precious, who sat by her side.
Lisi had taken to carrying Caprice around with her to whatever room she happened to be in; her need for water was fairly serious, and Lisi wanted to keep an eye on her. Just happening to look over at the planted leaf after finishing a paragraph, Lisi was shocked. Gasping, and nearly throwing her book to the ground, the quiet girl leapt to her feet and knelt down to look more closely at the leaf. Her coloring was different; nearly black. And the pot was rocking back and forth violently with her attempts to escape the dirt.
Afraid that the pot would fall over and break, Lisi picked it up and sat it on the wood floor in front of the coffee table. "Oh no, oh no, oh dear," Lisi mumbled, watching her leaf with frightened eyes, not knowing what to do. Curious about the odd happenings, Blythe padded over to Lisi, but Lisi kept her at a distance. Waltz lifted his head and sniffed the air; Ciel barely opened his eyes in disinterest.
"Oh, no," she breathed again, eyes locked onto the trembling pot and struggling leaf. "What's going on? What can I do?"
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Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:51 pm
The changes don't stop there. Three strange smooth growths appear on the leaf, which is now totally black with some grey shading. In a brilliant leap, the leaf nearly clears the soil.
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Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 4:51 am
Lisi's eyes grew round and huge and she jumped back in surprise. She watched it anxiously, her hands itching to do something to help, but not knowing what she could possibly do.
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Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 4:36 pm
The air grows humid as the leaf continues its struggle. From somewhere distant, it is possible to smell the sea. With a brilliant leap and a flash of light, the leaf escapes the post, which shatters from expelled energy, and changes shape in the air, landing on the floor a bright-eyed toddler.
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