What the Orchids Remember
Schrödinger’s Orchid
Uproar in the Orchidarium
おはようございます (ohayō gozaimasu). Said a polite voice, and the orchidarium exploded.
Who? What was that? Cried the three sisters.
And then, a choir of echoes repeated the question in several levels of fear, irritation and surprise.
Then, White Knight added.
Surely an immigrant, another one. This is becoming unbearable.
Laelia and Bulbophylum looked at him but didn’t comment. They were, by this time, getting to know their neighbor enough to know nothing they would say would make him behave.
I am sorry. Said the polite voice again. I mean good morning.
They could hear there was some accent in her speak but couldn’t understand why.
Good morning to you too, replied Little Star north, who was the closer to who seemed to be the newcomer. What was it that you said? Before?
Good morning, she said.
No, no, that was not good morning. You do not talk like we do. Why? And who are you?
Oh, I am sorry. I am Neofinetia Falcata Furan, and yes, I just came to this place.
Do we call you Neofinetia? Or what, Falcata? Inquired Little Star West. And what does your name mean? And why is it so difficult to see you?
You can call me Furan, or better still, Samurai. Replied the newcomer. I don’t know why you can’t see me, though.
Samurai? Asked Lady from across the void. Did I hear correctly?
Yes, madam. If it pleases you. Replied Samurai. Why?
Many suns ago, I was in a place where I could hear some talk, strange talk that came out from a large box. There were people in that box, and they were saying that word, again and again they said it. What does it mean?
A samurai was a warrior of old Japan, trained to serve with courage, discipline, loyalty, and honor. Explained the newcomer. I was named because of them.
Japan? Asked White Knight, as always in a voice loud enough to be heard across the continent. Where is that?
I really do not know. It’s not as if I had come from there, not myself, at least. My parents did, though.
And that you said? Insisted now Laelia. Is that how your parents talk?
Yes, yes. Not only them. The caretakers in the conservatory I used to live also talk like that. Explained Samurai.
Are they also from that place? asked Lady. And what is that ‘conservatory’ thing.
No, no. I think they, and the conservatory, are all here, in this country. From the stories by my parents, it takes many suns to travel from there to here. And, she answered looking at Lady, a conservatory is where hundred, even thousands of those like us live.
Ah, you mean the great house. Ok. Should have said that instead of all those weird words. Commented White Knight. And added, as to himself but in a voice loud enough to be heard by all, Making herself so important, huff.
Yellow Bird addressed Samurai.
Do not pay attention to him, he is like that with everyone.
I won’t, and if you please, your name?
I am Yellow Bird, and I came with him, White Knight, from the great house. This one is Lady of the Night, that one over there Bulbophylum Rotschildianum, yes, I know, a terrible long name, that’s Laelia, you can also call her Chocolate Drop, over there, the quiet one is Wakanda.
Glad to meet you all, I hope you will accept me in your social group. Replied Samurai. And all those over there? She added, with a movement of her blooming spike.
Oh, replied Bulbophylum, those are the Phals. Those are all Phals, no individual names to them. He added, with a disdainful shrugging.
Tell us more about yourself, Samurai. Asked Little Star South. Did you come through the Darkness?
The Darkness? What is that?
Most of all have arrived here, sent from our family’s houses, through a great darkness. We were enveloped in stuff, enclosed, deprived of air, water and light for some days, and then finally the caretaker here took us out and placed us in this place. Explained Little Star.
Oh, yes, yes. There was a great darkness, and strange movements. Yes. You call that the Darkness?
It was the Great Darkness and it almost killed me. Said Twinkle Pink from across the void. I am glad you didn’t go through that.
And your name, please?
I am Twinkle Pink, and this one by my side came with me too, through the Great Darkness, he is Sharry Baby.
Very glad to make your acquaintance, sir. Said Samurai, and you could almost imagine her little bow. I am Samurai.
Sharry Baby acknowledged with a bow of his own.
And have you all been here for a long time? Samurai asked.
Some longer, some just a few suns. Those over there, at the extreme over the void, those were the first ones.
The ones called ‘Phals’. Said Samurai.
Yes, those. They have been here forever.
Ah. And tell me about the caretaker here? Is she good. Can I trust her?
Twenty voices arose at the same time, from White Knight complaining to Old One, all giving their opinions about their caretaker.
Wait, wait, please. I cannot understand you! Exclaimed Samurai.
Twinkle waited for the orchids to subside and explained.
I am very happy with her, and yes, you can trust her.
Then Twinkle told Samurai the story of their trip across the Great Darkness and the kidnapping.
So, you see, her concern for us is real. You will see. She finished.
Yes, you will see. Smirked White Knight. Wait until she hangs the necklace around your neck.
The necklace? asked Samurai. What is that?
White Knight immediately started explaining what the necklace was, his opinion on the caretaker, the damage the necklace was doing to him, and more and more complaints on how things were conducted in this place.
Samurai, listening to him was getting very concerned, even her leaves were dropping a little.
Don’t pay attention to him, Samurai. He’s never happy with anything. For the Sun, I have had to deal with him ever since we were in the great house. Listen, the caretaker is great. She doesn’t urge us to bloom, she loves all of us as we are, measures our amount of sun and water, never lets us dry up, gives us food and even rescues those in trouble. See that Phal there? She would have died if she hadn’t rescued her, and Yellow Bird here? She was in a place so narrow and so bad for her roots, and caretaker took her out and placed her in this nice larger home.
And how does she talk to you? Samurai insisted.
What do you mean? In English, just like how we are talking now. Why?
Well, I told you my previous caretakers spoke Japanese. I just wanted to be sure I was not going to need to learn a new language. Explained Samurai.
Oh, she talks English, among other ones. Said from far over, Old One. I have heard her.
The assembly turned to look at the senior one.
Others? Asked White Knight. What other? Is she also an immigrant. Oh by the Sun, we are all invaded by immigrants here.
Nobody answered this commentary from the Knight.
Well, explained Yellow Bird, yes, apparently, she is an immigrant. The majority of us are. We were not really born here. Non of us were. Listen, Lady’s family came from down south, Mexico maybe, just as probably Sharry Baby and Laelia. Bulbophylum comes from farther away, a place called India, I think, and Wakanda far across the great waters, I think it is called Asia. Maybe even from the same place you come, Samurai.
Oh, really? Said Samurai. Konnichiwa, Wakanda-san! And bowed.
Oh, no, no. Replied Wakanda. I do not know your language. Sorry.
My mistake, replied Samurai. And the caretaker, you were going to say?
Oh, she comes from south of here, a very large island. There are lots of us over there in her country. Or were a lot, when she left. She has told that thing in her hand many times about it.
What language then, will she use with me?
Not Japanese, that’s for sure. Commented Sharry with a smile. English. She talks to all of us in the language of this country.
Do not worry, Samurai. You will soon find yourself at ease here.
And with your necklace hanging around your neck. Concluded White Knight.
Some time later, Laelia and Chocolate Drop wanting to talk a bit more to Neofinetia, twisted around to look at her. There was nothing there, the space where they had seen the new arrival was empty.
Where did she go? Asked Chocolate Drop. Where is she?
I don’t know. Replied Sharry Baby. Yellow Bird? Do you see her?
No, Sharry, and I am a bit scared.
You are scared? shouted White Knight, making everyone jump. You should be scared. I wanted to say something, but because you are always arguing with me….
What did you want to say, White Knight. Asked the Old One from across the void.
She disappeared. I was looking at her a while ago and suddenly she was becoming more and more… what is the word?.....Transparent? Like when some of our flowers grow old, and we can see through them, you know. Then I couldn’t see her anymore.
That is impossible, said Wakanda. A whole orchid doesn’t become transparent like that…humph.
I am telling you it happened. Insisted White Knight.
Probably caretaker took her inside, to the kitchen, added one of the Three Sisters.
No. The caretaker hasn’t been outside today at all, she wasn’t here. I know. Said Lady of the Night.
But then… what happened? Cried Bulbophyllum in a shaky voice… Was it a ghost? I have heard stories….
Ghost? Ghost? What ghost? Don’t be silly Bulbophylum. There must be an explanation.
Just then, the door to the Orchidarium was pushed open, and the caretaker came out. As usual, she was talking to the little box in her hand.
“I told you I had to do it. We couldn’t wait any longer for it. Yes, yes, the Neofinetia Falcata, yes.”
“I am telling you, I cancelled it. She is not coming anymore. For the time being, the Neofinetia remains out there, in Michigan.”
The orchids shook in their roots, and when the caretaker returned inside, they whispered among themselves:
Then who was talking to us all that time?