Love IS in the Air!

“We offer love to our customers. And in return, we receive the finest smiles. And even if we cannot return their affection, at least we can offer a rose.”
Bisco Hatori

Today is St Valentine’s Day and I’ve been attending to boxes of roses, arranging ‘Baby’s Breath’ in silver buckets, unwrapping stems of my favourite asparagus fern in addition to being perched on a stepladder hanging ‘twiggy’ hearts from the ceiling beams and while rummaging around to find the rolls of romantic ribbons that I had stored for safe-keeping last year!

Yes, its been one busy day!

However, with only moments to go until closing time, and with a box of chocolates and the sweeping brush still patiently waiting – who should potter in but Murphy!

But as I watched him make his way to the large display table to gaze at the flowers – I sensed that the feline was troubled.

“Today’s St Valentine’s Day Murphy!” I said cheerfully as I put the finishing touches to a bouquet.

“Ooo! That’s lovely!” he replied as he pottered over to the shop counter to take a closer look.

“Yes, it is rather nice isn’t it? The customer wanted something a little ‘extra special’ for his Valentine and so I have created a bouquet of roses, ferns and chocolate ‘kisses’ that I shall be delivering on my way home tonight.
And you Murphy; do you have a secret Valentine?”

“My Valentine,” he said in a quiet whisper “is the girl next door and she loves nothing more than sitting by the rose bed in our garden on a nice day… She loves those roses and until they bloom again later this year, I will miss her…”

As the feline’s voice trailed off, I realised what was troubling him and glancing at the solitary red rose on the counter from the corner of my eye, I asked him if he would like this as a gift for his Valentine?

“Ooo! Yes please!” he chirped and as he quickly pottered over to the buckets of ‘Baby’s Breath’ and the asparagus fern in the corner of the shop, I asked – “Would you like me to include some of these too?”

“Tell me about the girl next door,” I asked as I grappled with the scissors and fine silver wire in which to create a floral love token worthy of this feline’s Valentine.

“Oh, that’s easy,” he replied “for not only is she better than fifty shades of grey with a gorgeous fur coat and a twinkle in her eye; but I think that she also quite likes me!”

Jumping down from his comfortable perch to inspect the piece of red ribbon that had been discarded on the floor, I knew that I now had the perfect finishing touch.

As I was applying the finishing touches to Murphy’s corsage with the ribbon – I noticed that he was NOW decorated in flowers!

Shaking the flowers from his fur, he expressed delight with his unique Valentine’s corsage and tucking it carefully under his bushy tail – he went in search of the girl from next door!