Door of Petals

I sat down under the flower. Didn't quite know why it was really so big. I actually just happened to stumble across it, meandering about my way one day. It had beautiful red petals flowing in the summer wind, so I trotted a slow trot up to the tree-size stem. At first I did not believe my eyes as I approached the gorgeous beast. I wrapped my arms around the huge trunk in awe, and gave it the greatest hug a child has ever given anything. On it grew small, tiny hairs, as if grown simply for the pleasure of catching a ride on the waves of the air. They tickled my face as I hugged harder. I could feel the green stem warp a little under the pressure of my arms, which allowed me to feel the pulse of the flower. And what a huge pulse it had!

I looked up the stem to see if there was any way to climb this gigantic plant. Climbing is the first reaction that goes through a child's mind when confronted with an object taller than he is. Maybe it's the perceptual scene a child receives as he sits down at the top looking out over the world; or it could be the satisfaction of overcoming such a feat that makes this desire course through the blood streams of children. Regardless, I had a sudden urge to climb; and climb I did!

I reached up with my arms and got the biggest hold I could. It seemed the flowing hairs were strong enough to hold my weight. In only a few minutes, I was atop the flower looking down on the ground. Higher than I expected. I turned to look at the flower and its petals when I noticed something completely different. Something that never should have been there! For in the core of the flower was a door. You would never see it from the ground, and it was still hard to see from up here. It was hidden in the center, camouflaged. What I really noticed was the brass doorknob. That was the first part I saw, then the door outlined itself for my eyes to see.

What was a door doing in the center of a flower? Curious, as little kids are, I thought about what was behind the door. I did not think very long, nor did I care too much as to what was hidden inside. My curiosity won, and in an instant I was through the door.

I walked into a strange land, never seen before by my eyes or heard of before by my ears. I was on the other side of reality, it seemed - since the colors shone brighter, the smells smelled stronger, the sound sounded louder, the tastes tasted better (as the air tasted as sweet as honey), and the feelings I got as I entered the scene ran circles through my spine. I had no idea where I was, but I loved it nonetheless.