Benie & Bell: Seed002

Benie & Bell: The microstories of two souls in eternal orbit.

Seed002

"Benie!"

"Uncle Bell!" The squeak in Benie’s young voice warms Bell's aged heart. The generation gap doesn’t distance their connection, but bolsters it.

"How's it feel turning six, birthday boy?"

"Great!" Benie yelps and spins. "You said I’d learn something special today, remember?"

Uncle Bell smiles, nods, and lifts a finger, a signal to wait.

He produces a tiny box, just too big for a pocket, and hands it to Benie. Benie opens it and asks, "Is that… a seed?"

Uncle Bell's eye twinkles. "Today you get to learn magic."

Benie beams. "What kind of magic, Uncle Bell? Not the kind with rabbits and hats, I hope, ‘cause that's silly stuff."

Uncle Bell barks a laugh. "Naw, I don't know about that kind of magic. What do you know about seeds, Benie?"

Thoughtfully, Benie replies, "You plant them in dirt, water them, and they grow! Oh, and they need LOTS of sunshine!"

Uncle Bell laughs softly. "That's right. But you know, they do best with a little magic as well."

Benie spots a plant. "What's wrong with that one, Uncle Bell?"

"Nothing really. It has soil, sunshine, water… it just didn't get no magic." Uncle Bell winks at Benie, and Benie grins toothful and proud.

"What's the magic?" Benie queries.

Uncle Bell bends his forehead toward the child. "You, Benie. You are the magic."

Benie wonders at this for a moment, then gets distracted by a salt smell in the air.

"Did you know plants like when you talk to them?” Uncle Bell asks. “If they like you, they'll even talk back."

"No waaay," Benie responds, eyes wide. "What do they say, Uncle?"

"Oh, all kinds of things. 'You watering me too much. Move me to that spot. Nice shirt today.’" They giggle.

"What do you say to your plants?" Benie asks, chin propped in his hands.

"'Good morning.’ Or 'You are looking lovely today,' or, 'I'm glad you're here growing with me.’" Uncle Bell makes a well in the soil, then gestures for Benie to drop his seed in. "But if you really want to make magic happen, you sing to 'em."

Bell starts some music, the bass line familiar. Benie, electric with excitement, exclaims, "I know this song, Uncle!!"

Bell rocks his shoulders and snaps his fingers. "I know, little one!"

As the lyrics begin, they sing in unison with the track, sending their magic to the seed.

Benie & Bell is my first published fiction series. Microstory feels like a format within which I could practice my narrative brevity.

Thank you for being here to read it. I’m inviting comments (read: not foolishness) and sharing! What I love about microstory are all the unknowns readers can fill in, and I dig some good co-creation.

Question: What song do you think Uncle Bell and Benie were singing to?