The Last Flower

The twelfth World War, as the whole world knows, brought the collapse of the civilization. Towns, cities and capitals disappeared from the earth. Men, woman and children were located below the species more negligible. Books, paintings and music disappeared and people only sit, inactive, in circles.

Years and years passed. The boys and girls grew looking stupidly missed: the love had fled from the earth. One day, a girl who had never seen a flower, met with the last flower that was born in the world. And ran to tell the people that the last flower was dying. Only a boy paid attention to her, a boy that she found by chance.

The boy and the girl were commissioned of taking care of the flower. And the flower began to revive. One day a bee came to visit the flower. Then came a hummingbird.

They were soon two flowers; then four and then many, many. The forest and jungles became green again. The girl began to worry about his figure and the boy discovered that he likes to caress her. So the love had returned to the world.

Their sons grow healthy and strong. They learn to laugh and run. Putting stone on stone, the boy discovered that he could make a refuge. Very quickly all the people started making houses. Towns, cities and capitals appeared on earth. The music returned to spread throughout the world.

The musicians, tailors, shoemakers, painters, poets and soldiers arise again. The people choose to live here or there.

But then those who lived in the valleys complained for not having chosen the mountains. Those who had chosen the mountains grieved because they don't live on the valleys. The dissatisfaction increased and the world was on war again.

This time the destruction was so complete that nothing survived in the world. Only stay a man, a woman and a flower.


by James Thurber