Purple Flower: The Moral of the Story

Purple Flower: The Moral of the Story

I was in school today when a boy dared me to go whisper Purple Flower into my teacher’s ear.

I took the dare and walked to the head of the class and said in a whisper” Purple Flower” embarrassed that the rest of the class might hear me.

My teacher sent me to the Principal’s office.

The Principal said “Charles why are you in my office again?”

I told him:

I was in class when a boy dared me to say something to my teacher. I did it and teacher sent me to see you.

The Principal asked “what could you have said for her to send you to the office?”

I said “Purple Flower”.

The Principal sent me home for three days suspension.

I made it home earlier than usual, so of course my mom asked what I was doing home from school so early.

I told her:

I was in school this morning when a boy dared me to go say something to the teacher and when I did she sent me to the Principals Office. The Principal sent me home for three days.

Mom says, “What did you say”?

I said “Purple Flower”.

My mom sent me to my room. She said “just wait till your father hears about this, you stay in there till he gets home”.

Well I was hungry and scared now, not knowing what I had done wrong. It was several hours later when dad got home. He came to my room.

Dad asked “What’s going on, little buddy? Tell me what happened”.

I told him:

I was in class today when a boy dared me to go say something  to my teacher, I said it and she sent me to the Principals Office, the Principal sent me home for three days and mom sent me to my room until you got home.

My dad asked “what did you say”?

I said “Purple Flower”.

My dad kicked me out of the house.

I have my backpack and the clothes on my back, and no supper in my belly. I’m wandering aimlessly down the sidewalk when this little old lady speaks to me.

She says “young man, are you ok? Tell me what’s wrong”.

I told her: I was in school today when a boy dared me to say something to my teacher. When I did she sent me to the Principals Office, the Principal sent me home for three days, my mom sent me to my room till my dad got home and then my dad kicked me out of the house.

The little old lady says “ooo- dear, I’m so sorry! What did you say?”

I said “Purple Flower”.

The little old lady beat me up and kicked me off her side of the street. She said she didn’t want to see me on her side of the street anymore.

I’m sitting on the shoulder of the road holding my cracked ribs when the cops show up.

The cops asked me what happened; they wanted to know if my condition was gang related because I was beaten so badly.

I told them:

I was in school today when a boy dared me to say something to my teacher, I did and she sent me to the Principals Office, the Principal sent me home for three days, my mom sent me to my room till my dad got home, my dad kicked me out of the house and then a little old lady beat me up and won’t let me walk on her side of the street anymore.

The cops laughed at me and asked “what in the world did you say?”

I said: “Purple Flower”.

The cops said “Get in the car you’re going with us”.

I’m in court and heard the Judge call for the next case. I slowly approach the bench.

Judge: “Charles? I know your parents, good folks, what brings you into my court today?”

I told him:

I was in school today when a boy dared me to say something to my teacher, I said it and she sent me to the Principals Office, the Principal sent me home for three days, my mom sent me to my room till my dad got home, my dad kicked me out of the house, a little old lady beat me up and the cops picked me up, now I am here.

The Judge asked “what in the world did you say”?

I said: “Purple Flower”.

The Judge said “30 years, Bailiff get this trash out of here”!!

I am ushered down a prison cell block with chains and then shoved into a cell.

My cellmate asked “what are you in for?”

I said:

I was in school today when a boy dared me to say something to my teacher, I said it and she sent me to the Principals Office, the Principal sent me home for three days, my mom sent me to my room till my dad got home, my dad kicked me out of the house, a little old lady beat me up and the cops picked me up, the Judge gave me 30 years, now I am here.

My cellmate beat me up and set me in a corner. He said he didn’t want me to move until my sentence was up.

30 years have gone by; I crawl out of my corner and am escorted to the prison gate and shoved out by a group of guards slapping their batons into their hands like they want to beat me again.

I find myself walking down the sidewalk wondering about the passage of time and how much things have changed while I was away when I meet a man walking the in the opposite direction. The man takes a second look at me and stops in his tracks.

The man said “Charles is that you”? “I haven’t seen you in about 30 years, where have you been”?

I said:

I was in school 30 years ago when a boy dared me to say something to my teacher, I said it and she sent me to the Principals Office, the Principal sent me home for three days, my mom sent me to my room till my dad got home, my dad kicked me out of the house, a little old lady beat me up and the cops picked me up, the Judge gave me 30 years, my cellmate beat me up and set me in a corner. I just got out of prison today.

The man asked “what in the world did you say”?

I said: “Purple Flower” and took off running as fast as I could. I knew before I looked back the man was giving chase.

I looked back and sure enough the man was chasing me, for a fat man he could run fast, some rage burning in him and he was gaining on me.

In desperation I cut across the street to get away and a car ran over me, killed me.

What is the moral of this story you ask? {LOOK BOTH WAYS BEFORE CROSSING THE STREET}.

Dont hate me; this comes courtesy of the Holt boys (My Dad, Benny, Uncle Tom,Uncle Johnny) many years ago. I don’t remember who was responsible for planting this in my noggin but most of my sense of humor comes from the three men. I miss being able to sit and listen to their stories. I first heard this when I was about 12 years old and tell it to the aggravation of anyone one who will lend their attention to me long enough. My cousin Steve tried to kick me out of the car after hearing the punch line.