The Bent Lily

The lily folded over just as the florist's biggest order was due. The cooler had stopped, and the remaining flowers were warming fast. Her customer needed them for a party starting in two hours. Rather than cancel, the florist decided to move the flowers downstairs. An old cellar stayed cool, but its narrow steps made carrying buckets risky. She wrapped the stems in damp cloth and carried them carefully. At the bottom, she noticed warm air coming through a cracked window. Her assistant blocked it with a folded blanket, and the cellar cooled. At the party, the customer placed the bent lily beside the guest book. Guests asked first about the bent lily, and she told its story.