AprilEdition

The Colors of Life
By: Dianne Hahn / Back in the Days
love flowers, but I’ve never been much of a
I gardener.
When they handed out green thumbs, someone
else must have gotten mine. Hubby, who was never big on mowing the
lawn, did have a rose garden in just about every
house we lived in.
One year, he decided to have all white roses in
his garden. They were incredibly beautiful when
they bloomed.
The whole family enjoyed them, even the kids.
At 4, 6, and 8 years of age, our little troop of
gardeners often hung out with their dad when he
puttered in his rose garden.
“Here, take these to mom,” he’d say, as he
carefully chose three exceptionally beautiful white roses, ready to be
picked and enjoyed in the house. Three ragamuffins, with dirt smeared
on their faces and hands, would tramp through the family room into
the kitchen and proudly present me with the flowers.
One day the ragamuffins charged into the house empty handed, but
very excited. “Mon, “cried Dina, “You have to come and see Dad’s roses!
There’s a black rose on one of the white rose bushes!”
I stopped peeling the dinner potatoes. “Really?” “Yeah! Come and
see!” Three little heads bobbed up and down with excitement.
I rinsed my hands off and followed them out to the garden. Hubby
was standing in front of a white rose bush, shaking his head in disbelief,
staring at a gorgeous black rose in the middle of all the other white
roses.
My mouth dropped open in astonishment.
“That’s amazing!” I exclaimed. “We have to take
pictures and call the horticulture society. This is
phenomenal.”
Hubby looked up and began to grin. The kids
started giggling, and jumping up and down.
I squinted at everyone, then turned to Donnie.
“You didn’t?”
“I did,” he admitted, shaking a can of black
spray paint hidden behind his back. “Isn’t it beautiful?” “Yes,” I smiled.
“But I owe you one!”
An hour later, his grin intact, he handed me a bouquet of white roses,
the shiny black rose in the middle. “A peace offering,” he said.
A former schoolteacher, Dianne Sebis Hahn writes for children too.
Presently, Dianne has eight books available on Amazon.com. You
can also see her on SCA TV.
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