The Last Seedling
Every Wednesday, I post a 1,000 (or less) word story written in a single sitting, guided only by three random prompts: a genre, a location, and an object. I keep the editing light- just enough to get under my word restriction, if needed- because this weekly ritual is all about creative momentum, not perfection.
This week’s prompts:
Words: 500
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic
Location: Rooftop garden of a crumbling high rise
Required Word: Ashes
Claire sat on the edge of the building, staring out at the remains of the city. Looking up at the sky, the warmth of the sun on her face filled her heart with joy. She was 4 when the incident occurred and now, at 37, she was out on the surface for the first time in her life.
Since childhood she had been taught everything the survivors knew about gardening. Her mentor, Lyla, was hoping to one day get out and be the one to restart the growing of food, real, fresh food. Claire had never eaten anything that wasn’t canned and Lyla’s stories of fresh vegetables had her excited about the possibilities.
Lyla had gone on a few expeditions but ash still fell from the sky, blocking out the sun and making growth impossible. The last expedition out before her death reported that things were getting better and sunlight was starting to make its way through.
She never got to see her dream come to fruition, dying in her sleep a few months before Claire was sent out. Lyla had found a perfect spot- a 10 story building that managed to stay standing through everything. It had a roof top garden that would be the perfect spot to get started. Plenty of sunlight and not too tall that it would be problematic to walk up and tend.
Sid and Jeremy had made the trip with her and were hard at work setting up a water collection system. While Claire had spent her childhood learning about gardening, others learned engineering, science, whatever skills people had when they entered, they passed that knowledge down to the next generation.
“It’s set up,” Sid said as the two walked over to her.
“Next time we’ll bring stuff to finish the job, but this will get things started,” Jeremy added.
“Awesome, great job guys! The sun feels amazing!”
“It’s so hot, I miss being underground,” Jeremy complained.
“What? It feels good, makes me feel alive,” Sid countered.
“Either way,” Jeremy replied, “We’ve got a hike back home and I don’t want to be out late.”
“Okay, okay. I’m going.” Claire pulled three small envelopes labeled, squash, corn, beans.
This was Lyla’s plan finally put into action, planting corn, beans, and squash together in a mutually supportive arrangement.
Corn would provide a tall stalk for the beans to climb
The beans enrich the soil with nitrogen which benefits all three crops.
Meanwhile, the large, sprawling leaves of the squash plant act as a natural mulch, shading the ground to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
This companion planting method would create a sustainable, symbiotic ecosystem that maximizes space and yields while minimizing environmental impact,
Claire went to her patch and planted and spaced everything just as Lyla had taught her. The boys had offered to help, but she felt she had to do this alone.
As she covered the last seed she looked one more time to the sky, thanking Lyla for giving them hope.