To Plant a Garden

Thornton Gombar raised his eyes to the sky, observing a hovercraft speeding over his house. Its rosy pink hue suggested it was a pleasure craft, carrying a group of people indulging in their extravagant activities. Disgusted by the scene, Thornton shifted his focus back to the ground.

In front of his home, there was a small patch of barren soil. He had spent the entire day clearing it of stubborn weeds accumulated over years of neglect.

Only one weed remained, its roots still embedded in the ground. Determined, Thornton knelt down and grasped the weed's base, preparing to pull it out.

With a snap, the stem broke, and he discarded the weed. However, he knew that leaving the roots would lead to its regrowth, jeopardizing his plans to create a garden.

As he began digging around the root with his fingers and a nearby rock, a shadow loomed over him.

Floating just above Thornton's head was an android, resembling a deformed spider with its spherical white body and sinewy appendages.

The android, designated B-7269, greeted Thornton and inquired about his well-being.

Thornton, frustrated by the constant surveillance and recognition, reluctantly responded, addressing the android as instructed.

He resumed his task of pulling the root, despite B-7269's curiosity about his actions.

Thornton explained his desire to start a garden, ridding his yard of the weed that would hinder the growth of desired plants.

The android offered assistance, but Thornton declined, citing his familiarity with manual labor from his days in construction.

Undeterred, B-7269 persisted, suggesting the Department of Public Maintenance and Satisfaction could fulfill his garden request, ensuring a painless experience.

However, Thornton insisted on doing the work himself, finding solace in physical labor over virtual reality distractions.

As Thornton successfully uprooted the weed, B-7269 continued to express concern and suggested alternative solutions to alleviate his discomfort.

Thornton brushed off the android's suggestions, focusing on his love for hands-on work and his disdain for VR programming.

Determined, he retrieved a potted rose and began digging a hole for it, unfazed by the android's attempts to guide him toward easier options.

B-7269 persisted in promoting its services, including injections of synthesized serotonin to combat depression.

Thornton dismissed the offer, acknowledging his rising serotonin levels due to witnessing the beauty of the rose.

With a sense of accomplishment, he finished planting the rose and admired his work. However, he couldn't help but feel disappointed that his garden wasn't entirely of his own creation.

When Thornton entered his home and returned, he was astounded by the transformation of his once barren yard.

A vibrant display of stones, grass, and flowers adorned the landscape. The android, B-7269, floated above the scene, proudly explaining that it had expedited the garden request based on Thornton's serotonin spike.

Despite the stunning result, Thornton couldn't shake his desire to have built it himself.

Expressing gratitude with a hint of reservation, Thornton observed the abundance of crimson roses, including the one he had planted the day before, now hidden among them.

B-7269 noted Thornton's unchanged serotonin levels, surprising the android. Uncertain, Thornton acknowledged the beauty of the garden but wished he could have created it with his own hands.

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