The People Pleaser’s Battle

Hi my dear friend,

There is this flower shop 
I like to go to.
I visit it at least once 
a week.

To gather blooms for my 
wellness sessions. 
And bring more beauty 
into my life.

On this particular day, however,
I had my eye on two little pots 
of daffodils. 

To surprise someone 
I was about to see that day.

So I brought 
the flowers to the till
 to be wrapped in tissue paper 
and tied with a delicate bow.

And a florist came 
to help.

“Are these for a lady?”
she asked. 

“Yes”, I said. 
“For a woman.”

But then…

Before another word 
could leave my mouth, 
the florist had already 
cut…

the most 
used-bubblegum 
pink ribbon that no daffodil 
had ever deserved.

And now she was tying it 
around the parcel 
I was suddenly reluctant 
to gift.

- - - It's not that bad, 
I told myself.

– No, it really is.

- - - I can go home
and then re-wrap it.

– But why do I have to - 
if I'm standing right here?

- - - I don't want to 
make it awkward. 
It's just a ribbon anyway.

– Just say you prefer 
another colour. 
It will be okay.

– Say something.

- - - Forget about it. 

– Do it now. 

- - - Could we drop it?

“Excuse me…
could I choose a different ribbon? 
This one isn’t quite right for me.”

I finally found 
my courage to say.

“Well, that's why I asked
who this was for!
Next time,
please say something 
before I’ve already cut it.
Okay?”

The florist was 
clearly irritated by my request. 
But she did invite me to choose 
a different one.

- - - See! I told you 
not to say a word.

– And you were clearly right. 
A dose of shame for a metre of ribbon.
And we've been a loyal customer.

But then again…
Look!

Look how pretty 
it turned out!

We went into battle. 
And it was unpleasant. 
But in the end -
we did get what we want.

With love,
Elina Janevica

Artwork / Louis Alexandre Cabié, “Fleurs” (fragment) / personal collection