Abe Bloom's Arc

Chapter 2 of 2

Abe unlocked the shop door and stepped inside. The empty space smelled like fresh wood and possibility. He needed to fill the shelves, but first he had to learn the festival schedule. Without knowing when Vale celebrated, he couldn't plan his stock. He walked to the window and looked out at his white notice post. Soon, announcements would arrive there, telling him everything he needed to know. A shop needed flowers, and flowers needed growing. Abe couldn't just buy stock forever—he had to learn to grow his own. He found a plot of land behind the shop and started building. Glass panels went up first, then a frame to hold them. Inside, he set up tables and soil beds. The greenhouse took shape over three days. Sunlight poured through the glass walls, warming the air. He planted his first seeds in neat rows—roses, daisies, tulips. His fingers pressed each one into the dark soil. Water from his bucket soaked the beds. This was where he'd grow the flowers Vale needed. This was where the festival blooms would begin. The seedlings would need water every morning. Abe's old bucket had a crack in the bottom. He bought a blue watering can from the general store, testing its weight in his hands. The next morning, he filled it at the well and carried it to the greenhouse. He moved down each row, tipping the spout over the dark soil. Water splashed onto the seeds, soaking deep. The can held just enough for all the beds without needing a refill. He set it by the greenhouse door when he finished. Tomorrow he'd do it again. Day by day, seed by seed, his flower shop was becoming real. But the shop still needed a proper workspace. Abe carried empty pots outside and lined them up on the ground. He filled each one with soil, then added cuttings from his cart's leftover stems. Some might root and grow into new plants. Others would hold arrangements he could display before customers arrived. He worked in the open air, his hands moving fast as he tested different combinations. A yellow daisy next to a pink rose. Three white lilies in a clay pot. The outdoor space gave him room to prepare without crowding the shop. When he finished, the pots overflowed with color. Abe stepped back and wiped his hands on his jacket. His flower shop had shelves, seeds, water, and now a place to work. He was ready for Vale's festivals—whenever they came.