Begonia
A very short story
In the quaint town of Begonia, where the aroma of solitude hung in the air like a fragrant perfume, lived the reclusive Begonians. Now, Begonia was a peculiar place, a haven for those who valued their personal space so much that they had mastered the mystical art of "Be gone!" – a phrase that served as both a greeting and an effective teleportation spell.
One day, in the heart of Begonia, a Begonian named Jasper found himself accidentally locked in a heated debate with his neighbor, Gertrude. It all started when Gertrude's prized begonia accidentally invaded Jasper's perfectly manicured garden.
"Be gone!" Jasper declared, attempting to send the flower elsewhere, but to his surprise, Gertrude disappeared instead, leaving him alone with the intrusive begonia. Don’t worry about Gertrude. She just went to visit her cousin in Poughkeepsie, or was it Albuquerque?
Now, while Begonians were known for their aversion to socializing, they were also known for their sense of humor. As word spread about Jasper's unintentional vanishing act, the town erupted in laughter, shaking the very foundations of Begonia with the rare sound of snorting chuckles, guffaws, and nearly choking on chortles.
The incident sparked a series of impromptu "Be gone!" gatherings, where Begonians would purposely engage in social interactions just to witness the whimsical teleportation phenomenon. They would play games of Begone-Go-Seek, disappearing and reappearing in the most unexpected places, like Poughkeepsie or Albuquerque, much to the amusement of the entire town.
Despite their anti-social reputation, the Begonians had unwittingly stumbled upon a unique form of entertainment that united them in a peculiar way they had never experienced. They even decided to organize an annual festival called “Begonia-palooza”, where, for one day, Begonians from all over town would come together to celebrate the joy of being "Be gone!" aficionados and burned effigies of each other.
And so, in the strange little town of Begonia, where solitude once reigned, the Begonians discovered that in their efforts to avoid each other, they could create moments of hilarity and camaraderie. The legend of Begonia and its teleportation-prone inhabitants lived on in the imagination of children and inquisitive adults, proving that sometimes, the most unexpected things can bloom in the most solitary of gardens. But that’s not where the story ends.
It turned out that after several rounds of “Be gone!” at Begonia-palooza, Jasper was the only Begonian left. He adored his solitude and was content, but eventually felt lonely which turned into boredom. One day, when he was bored out of his skull, he peered intensely into a mirror and yelled “Be gone!” and POOF! There were no more Begonians. And that’s why, though you’ll find Poughkeepsie or Albuquerque, you’ll never find Begonia on a map.
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Poem for Begonia
In Begonia's town where solitude held sway,
Lived Begonians in their peculiar way.
A magical 'Be gone!' echoed through the air,
A teleporting spell, both whimsical & rare.
Jasper & Gertrude, had a heated debate,
A begonia invasion, their twist of fate.
"Be gone!" he declared, with a wave of his hand,
Gertrude vanished, to a distant land.
Peculiar Begonians, avoided crowds,
Found humor in teleportation, laughter allowed.
Begone-Go-Seek & a festival of fun,
"Begonia-palooza," under the solitary sun.
Despite their seclusion, a paradox found,
In laughter & games, camaraderie unbound.
Solitude once reigned, but they came to see,
Unexpected joy blooms in company.
Jasper, the last, in his solo delight,
Yearned for connection, in the still of the night.
"Be gone!" he cried, & in a poof, he was gone,
No more Begonians, their legend lives on.
Poughkeepsie, Albuquerque, on maps so clear,
But Begonia’s whereabouts remain unclear.
In solitude's paradox, their tale unfurls,
Unexpected joy in a Begonian's world.