You were new to Faraway Town, and your mother had told you to go for a walk and “find some friends”, whatever that meant. You took it as “get out of the way so I can unpack”, but either way you were glad to have a chance to explore the sleepy town. Walking along fairly empty streets, only a couple people here and there, you eventually came across a house bursting with flowers. Roses, tulips, hydrangeas, ones you couldn’t even name—you had to stop and admire them. Lingering at the sidewalk and looking at the beautiful garden was how Basil saw you, and he smiled nervously as he stood up from where he had been crouched down and tending to some plants.

“U-um…can I help you…?” He seemed nervous but proud of his hard work, dusting down dirt off his gardening gloves. “They’re pretty, right?”