Blog Post

A Small Kindness Brings a Big Change

May 24, 2020

This short story is a continuation of a Small Kindness and can be found on page nine when you scroll below.

The woman and the man worked hard in their garden hothouse. Replotting plants, getting saplings ready for planting and watering all of their products for the second part of the day. Their children helped alongside them. One was like any other typical human,  but the other was not typical by any means.

The couple had found their second child at their doorstep as a baby and would not have seen the tiny girl or known she was there except for her cries. As a baby, she was barely a human’s thumb length, now at the age of twenty-one, she stood roughly seven inches tall.

Neither she nor her family knew why she was so small, but she embraced it. Using her inventive mind and mathematical skills to help her in living in the big world around her. And her brother got her any supplies she wanted and probably more than she needed.

It didn’t bother her, not really. Working for her parent’s company with her brother gave her a lot to do, but sometimes she wished she could be around other people. Not that her parents and brother were not enough, but it would be nice to be around someone her size.

“Clover! Clover? I need your help.” Daniel called to me.

“What do you need now?” I asked my older brother.

“I need you to plant the seeds in the new batch of soil while I move the saplings to the truck. What were you thinking about anyway?”

“Nothing in particular,” I replied as I maneuvered the shop to reach the soil ready for planting.

My mother brought out lemonade in a cup for my brother and the closest thing we had to a cup for me: a thimble.

“Thank you!” I smiled up at her, enjoying the cold liquid after working in the heat.

“Did you finish loading the truck?” My mother asked Daniel.

“Yep, I’m ready to go when you are!” He said putting down his glass and taking the last sapling with him.

“Your dad will be back in a few from the McDonland job. Your brother and I will go and be back as soon as possible. Remember,”

“I know, stay out of sight. Let the people come for their pickups. Don’t be seen, and don’t talk to anyone above my height. I’ll be fine mom. I promise. This isn’t the first time you have left me alone.”

“I just worry about you.” My mother said giving me as close to a hug as she could.

“I love you too!” I replied smiling at the real reason for her worry.

“I love you. Be safe.” She walked to the door. Hesitating and turning around to look at me before she officially left.

I heard the truck start and rumble away as I grabbed the remote to listen and sing to the music while I worked.

A few people came in as I planted more seeds. They picked up their flower orders and left the money in the dropbox.

They didn’t see me or hear my voice over the music. No one paid attention to smalls things. I had learned that long ago. 

I sang and danced as I worked, enjoying the music until it was turned down, not of my own doing.

“Hello? Is anyone here?” The older woman asked.

I stayed hidden in the flowers, quiet and uncertain of what to do next.

The woman looked around, saying, “I heard you singing. You have a lovely voice. Most wouldn’t hear it over the voice on the radio, but I would. I am used to listening for small voices and watching out for small things that others would overlook. I suspected your family had a secret, perhaps a magical being or creature in their care. I was not expecting you. What is your name?” 

She leaned down to my level, somehow finding the exact flowers I had hidden in. 

“You can come out. I won’t hurt you. My name is Juanita. And if you are wondering you are not the first being of your size I have seen. I am a guardian for individuals of your size. In fact, I care for a whole community, world really.”

I came out of the flowers, asking, “There are more like me? And I’m Clover.”

“Nice to meet you, Clover. And yes, some even smaller than you. Others that have wings, and some that ride winged creatures to get around. How did you come to live with your parents?”

“They found me as a baby, left on their doorstep. They don’t know who or why. In this century it is kind of weird to leave a baby on a doorstep huh? But I guess what I am, makes me a special case.”

We continued talking for a while until she needed to leave to return home to the others. Juanita said she would come again tomorrow and bring a friend of hers that was like me! Someone else like me. I wasn’t alone and there were others!

My family returned and I excitedly told them about the meeting and seeing her and a friend again tomorrow. 

“Alright Clover, Juanita has always been a loyal customer. And considering she isn’t planning on giving you away.”

The next day I anticipated the visit of Juanita as I dressed in my favorite dress.

I worked on planting news seeds, needing to release the nervous energy somehow.

“You’re not excited at all are you?” My mom said sarcastically with a laugh.

“Nope. Not at all!” I smirked.

“Hello? Anyone here?” I heard Juanita’s voice call as my stomach filled with butterflies.

“In the back!” My mom called out to her. 

I looked up at my brother leaning against one of the tables, “Don’t embarrass me.”

“Do I ever?”

“Yes! All the time!” 

He laughed as Juanita came in with a guy possibly slightly taller than me sitting on her shoulder.

“Meagan, good to see you! And finally meet your youngest.”

“Juanita, I am glad you appreciate why I hadn’t introduced her before.” My mom greeted.

Juanita nodded as the guy hopped off Juanita’s shoulder and walked toward Daniel and me.

“Luke.” He said extending a hand toward me and then looking at my brother and waving.

“I’m Clover and this is my brother Daniel.”

“Nice to meet you. So how do you get around this place? Everything is so big, no offense tall fella.” He looked over at Daniel with a sly smile.

“No offense taken, small fry.”

“I like him.”

“Good cause no one else does,” I said jokingly looking up at my brother who stuck his tongue out at me. 

“Oh and I built things to get around. Daniel brings me what I need and I make whatever I need to get through life. I like math and creating things so it is really actually pretty easy.”

“Can you show me? If it isn’t too much trouble?”

“I would love too!” 

Daniel watched as I showed Luke the various inventions I had made to help me live a better life. From things to maneuver the large world to those that could help me move objects bigger than myself.

“Wow. We could use this at home. It is cool you have a mind that can make this kind of stuff.”

“Thanks,” I said blushing.

“Yeah, I told her that. She doesn’t realize how cool it really is and how not a lot of people like math.” Daniel noted as he crossed his arms.

“Tell me about. We have a school at the Haven I live at and we haven’t had a math teacher in awhile. And none of the other teachers are sure how to teach the subject or inspire a love of it.” Luke turned to me, “Would you consider teaching?”

“I never thought about it. It could be fun. I have always had a head for numbers, its like a puzzle. Finding a place where everything fits perfectly. Or in some cases, it is like solving a mystery. I love it, and it could be cool to share that love with others.”

“It would be great! And you would know someone teaching! I teach art, literature, general, English, and a few other subjects.”

“You should try it, Clover,” Daniel said as both adults walked up.

“Try what?” My mom asked.

“Teaching.” Luke and Daniel said in unison.

“I believe you should. Or at least go to the Haven.” Hearing my mom approve of the idea was not was I was expecting.

I stayed quiet as everyone talked and made arrangements. Daniel even seemed excited as my mom and Jaunita shared a look that I noticed briefly. They were planning something that would also involve him.

A week later Daniel and I drove to Jaunita’s house to see the Haven.

As we arrived and walked through to the back yard my breath stopped.

It was incredible.

Christmas lights creating a soft glow in the evening light.

Houses decorated the area.

Tools, utensils, cups, chairs. Things in my size for the first time.

Luke showed me the houses, the school, the garden, everything that the community created, while Juanita and Daniel talked.

I looked in the distance to see my brother standing in the middle of everything looking serious as he seemed to be considering something. 

As I looked around I realized it was perfect, but not for me. I was so used to everything being so big, what if this didn’t fit?

Even if it wasn’t for me, my brother brought me to teach each day and I fell in love showing my students how math could be fun and interesting.

“Clover, why don’t you stay at the Haven?” My brother asked as we drove to the Haven for the day.

I thought about it, “I don’t know if I can live in a community. With everything so small. And I’ll miss you guys. What if it isn’t right?” 

“First of all mom and dad will always welcome you at home, and even if you did decide to stay mom and dad would visit you every chance they get. And Clover, I haven’t seen you this happy, at least not in a while. You need community.”

“I have you, mom, and dad.”

“You need people outside of us. Not a lot, but you need a community. Others like you, and you have found a few people there at the Haven. If it isn’t right you can always go back, but I believe this is right Clover. That you found a home, and maybe I did too.”

“What do you mean you found a home too? Are you leaving mom and dad?”

“Kind of, but not yet actually. Since I have grown up with you as my sister, and well Juanita doesn’t have any family, she asked me to be her successor. To take care of everyone in the Haven when she can’t. I told her I would. So over time, I will learn what she does, and more about every type of magical beings living there.”

“Really? That is great Daniel! They will love you!”

We went through the house to the backyard and I noticed a banner hanging in the trees.

It looked like my students made it, it said, “Welcome Home Miss Clover!” 

I smiled at the variety of colors and pictures drawn onto the giant banner that must have taken hours to make.

“We prepared a house for you! Luke took care of the details inside.” Juanita told us.

Luke showed me the house. It was great, and he picked out everything that I loved.

And it was all perfectly my size.

“Go look in the back.” Like said with an excited smile.

I went to the back and saw a workbench. With tools, pencils, paper. All the supplies I could need. 

“It’s for all your inventions. And Daniel said he would bring more supplies whenever you need refills of anything.”

“Thank you!” I replied giving him a hug.

We walked back out as everyone in the Haven surrounded us. People like me. People I had been able to talk to and connect with. 

I could contribute and create, and teach the next generation to do the same. Teach them to love and enjoy math as I did.

“So Clover what do you think?” Juanita asked.

I was seen. I was loved. I was apart of a community. 

 I looked at Juanita, then Luke, “I absolutely love it! Thank you for all the work you did. For making me feel welcomed, feel like I belong. And Juanita thank you for noticing me when no one else did. Luke, for inspiring me to teach. Daniel, for encouraging my inventions. Everyone else for making me a part of your community.”