Photo by: John Brand
Marion’s house in New York was tiny, and her yard was smaller. Nevertheless, she insisted on a lush garden. She mounted brackets on the wall to place more pots. She even mounted pots up the trunk of her cherry blossom tree.
Her high-powered, concrete-jungle-dwelling, corporate neighbors thought she was weird. As they passed her they’d loudly say things like: “Freak!”, Weirdo!”, and “Ey! What’s Looney-Bin food like?”
Marion rightly ignored them. She soon had a living wall with so many plants she lost track of them.
This was the perfect environment for the aliens Apostideae and Bromilius. The two looked much like Terrestrial carnivorous pitcher plants, except five-feet tall with aggressive tentacles to pull in prey, and stomach acids that dissolved food in mere minutes.
Bromilius watched people flow by. “There’s so much food here. What should we eat? We need some Rules of Devouring.”
“We can’t eat just anyone,” said Apostideae. “We’d give our presence away.”
“Right.”
“Let’s not eat the gardener for starters. She’s nice.”
“Agreed.”
“I got it! Let’s only eat the humans who are rude to other humans.”
Bromilius crossed his tentacles in exasperation. “You do realize we’re in New York, right?”
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Written for Sunday Photo Fiction: https://sundayphotofictioner.wordpress.com/2017/04/23/sunday-photo-fiction-april-23rd-2017/
Author’s Notes:
Pitcher Plant: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitcher_plant
EagleAye
Momus News 
Oh! They are in the land of opportunity! I’m sure they can have a real feast every day. (That’s not to say they would not have the same opportunity in other states though .)
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True enough. Every state (nearly) has its big, mean city. But the same rules applied in Littletown, Indiana (where they say please and thank you and, incredibly, hold the door open for others) would mean slim pickin’s for our aliens. 😉 Thanks so much! 🙂
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Great twist! They certainly won’t go hungry.
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Hehe. Nope. They’ll eat like kings, I’m sure. Thanks so much! 🙂
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I love the way you set the scene. The aliens are sure to stay pit in the state for a long long time.
Excellent writing.
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Oh yeah, they will. A banquet every day. Though, they may need to change the rules of devouring. Otherwise, they’ll eat everyone in sight! 😉 Thanks so much! 🙂
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Someone should warn them that some of their intended food supply is contaminated by ‘crystal meth’ or ‘crack’ cut with drain cleaner.
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I think that’s mostly in the poorer neighborhoods. Marion’s neighbors are rather well-to-do. They get a fairly good quality of cocaine…and lots of it. 😉
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Two five-foot-tall pitcher plants in a tiny garden? Believe me, Marion knows they are there.
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She probably does. She might also know what they’re eating. Why not? She doesn’t need a guard dog now. 😉
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And chances are, she planted them herself, too.
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That will deal with the burglars and other unwanted visitors😉
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Exactly. And just think, you never have to fertilize them. The plant hunt down their own fertilizer. 😉
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If I read that story without knowing the author I would predict that you would the author. Where did you get Apostideae and Bromilius?
DJ
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Haha! You know me so well. Apostideae is a shortened version of an orchid name, Bromilius is merely an alteration of plant name, “Bromiliad.” Thanks Danny! 🙂
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I don’t think that New York, or even the USA, has a monopoly on rudeness, Eric.
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You’re quite right. Chicago is rather skilled at it. Los Angeles is very good at rude and then claims you are rude if you’re offended. Manila can be very rude, especially if you’re a fellow Filipino. It can happen anywhere in any country, to be honest, but it’s the largest cities that turn it into an art form.
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LOL that last line is perfect. I’m so glad Apostideae and Bromilius like their host. They are going to be well fed for a looooong time 😀
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Hehe. Oh yes, they’ll eat very eat very well. Who knows? They might even have children there… 😉 Thanks Lyn! 🙂
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Haha loved it.I would love to plant them on the border, so many terrorists are infiltrating. Any chance?
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Hehe. I’ll have some bulbs shipped out to you straightaway. 😉 Thanks Indira! 🙂
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Thanks.
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That last line made me laugh out loud. That’s excellent Eric. Great story
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Yay! That’s what I wanted. A good guffaw is good for the soul. Thanks Al! 🙂
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