Chapter 18

           Theyopenedtheflowershopthenextday.AsHowlhadpointedout,itcouldnothavebeensimpler.Everyearlymorning,alltheyhadtodowastoopenthedoorwiththeknobpurple-downandgooutintotheswimminggreenhazetogatherflowers.Itsoonbecamearoutine.Sophietookherstickandherscissorsandstumpedabout,chattingtoherstick,usingittotestthesquashygroundorhookdownspraysofhigh-upchoiceroses.Michaeltookaninventionofhisownwhichhewasveryproudof.Itwasalargetintubwithwaterinit,whichfloatedintheairandfollowedMichaelwhereverhewentamongthebushes.Thedog-manwenttoo.Hehadawonderfultimerushingaboutthewetgreenlanes,chasingbutterfliesortryingtocatchthetiny,brightbirdsthatfedontheflowers.Whilehedashedabout.Sophiecutarmloadsofbluehibiscus,andMichaelloadedthebathwithorchids,roses,starrywhiteflowers,shinyvermilionones,oranythingthatcaughthisfancy.Theyallenjoyedthistime.

           Then,beforetheheatinthebushesgrewtoointense,theytooktheday’sflowersbacktotheshopandarrangedtheminamotleycollectionofjugsandbucketswhichHowlhaddugoutoftheyard.Twoofthebucketswereactuallytheseven-leagueboots.Nothing,Sophiethoughtasshearrangedshocksofgladiolusinthem,couldshowhowcompletelyHowlhadlostinterestinLettie.HedidnotcarenowifSophieusedthemornot.

           Howlwasnearlyalwaysmissingwhiletheygatheredflowers.Andthedoorknobwasalwaysturnedblack-down.Hewasusuallybackforalatebreakfast,lookingdreamy,stillinhisblackclothes.