The Exotic Lawn: A Parable
‘It surely looks nothing like what we’re used to around here’ Rudolph mused as he surveyed his beautiful new lawn shimmering in the early morning dew. This was magnificently confirmed in the piece the local paper did on just how much color and diversity his bold step brings to the gardens in the area.
Sure, there have been some ignorant dunces who pointed out that this species of Arabian Camel Grass is notorious for harbouring deadly snakes. Some of the more persistent among them even quoted statistics showing how much the likelihood of someone dying a painful, writhing, poison-induced death increases with every extra meter of coverage.
It was beyond Rudolph how people can be so backward. His new lawn livened up the boring and predictable conformity of the neighbourhood with its otherness. ‘Besides’ he clinched the internal argument with the Neanderthal who pleaded with him not to go ahead ‘only a tiny percentage of Arabian Camel Grass lawns ever harbours the snakes’. Surely that’s a small price to pay for the way in which it enriches quiet suburban streets.
Rudolph was awakened from his thoughts by the reminder on his phone telling him that it is time to go to a meeting of the City Council where he and a few other enthusiasts will lobby the City Council to plant Camel Grass in their community’s Public Parks.
He got up quickly. As he did, an excruciating flash of pain shot up from his ankle towards his heart.
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Peter
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