Faith by James Patrick Kelly

Author:James Patrick Kelly [Kelly, James Patrick]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Fantasy, Fiction, Short Stories, Science Fiction
Publisher: Feedbooks
Published: 1989-08-27T04:00:00+00:00

Gardiner seemed edgy; he walked Faith out to his car like a man on his way to an audit. The back seat of his Ford Escort wagon was covered with a plastic dropcloth. On it squatted an enormous plant with blue-green leaves the size of dinner plates.

"Gardiner, what a beautiful plant!"

"Hosta seiboldiana. A new cultivar."

Faith arched an eyebrow. "I've never been out with a perennial before."

"There's a perfectly good reason why I had to bring it, which I'd rather not go into just now." He turned the ignition key; the engine grumbled and caught.

"Does it have a name?" she asked.

"23HS."

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. S." She twisted around in her seat and touched one of the big leaves.

Gardiner said nothing.

"So where are we going for dinner?"

"We've got reservations at Anthony's for six-thirty."

"Great. I love Anthony's." She teased him again. "But I didn't know they served hostas there."

Silence.

"Is something wrong?" she said. "I don't bite, you know. Or at least, not until after dessert."

"Everything's fine; it's my problem."

"I see." She considered. "You know what an oxymoron is, Gardiner? Because what you just said sounded like one."

He pulled off into an empty lot. "Faith, I like you, but there's something I've got to tell you."

She sagged against the passenger door. "Okay, I'm listening." She hated it when men started confessing things on the first date.

"I don't just blurt this out to anyone, you know. People get the wrong idea. But I like you."

"You said that already."

He grasped the steering wheel as if to anchor himself.

"I talk to plants."

She waited. "That's all? You mean, you don't deal crack? You're not involved with a sixth-grader?"

"No listen, I really talk to plants. Hostas, daylilies, hibiscus — you name it. I don't understand myself exactly how I do it. But I'm not crazy, believe me. Just a little different. And I get results: I'm successful at what I do. There aren't that many independent plant breeders left in this country, you know. Most of them work for universities or corporations or else they specialize in just one species. I've registered more than twenty different cultivars in the past ten years. Anyway, sometimes I wait to tell people — women — about this. I wait until they get to know me better. But when they find out, I end up getting hurt."

"Gardiner, I … "

"It's all right if you want to go home. I understand; it's happened before. Sometimes I don't even know why I bother. Look, I don't … I certainly don't expect you to talk to plants. I'd be pretty surprised if you did. You can think whatever you want — but just don't humor me. Okay? Because first they always say 'oh, isn't that cute, he talks to plants" and then it's 'poor guy, maybe he's been alone too long," and the next step is 'Gardiner, have you ever thought about getting counseling?' I don't need counseling! I just need someone to trust me for a change."

Faith hesitated, then reached over and gently squeezed his arm.

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