Losing Cliff and Claude left behind a lingering cloud of despondence in the office of the desk dwellers. For several weeks few words were exchanged. The scorching sun had eased up and started to set earlier each day making them feel a little gloomier. One day the humans decided to remedy this by brightening up the place with strings of little twinkle lights.
It was the first time in a long time that the plants felt a sense of joy. Every morning when the sun had yet to show up, the twinkle lights were ignited by the humans and illuminated the office space until well into the evening when they all headed home.
The same old sweltering melodies on the radio gradually made way for the more cheerful and cosy tunes of the season. The window sill had been transformed into a wonderful, winter wonder sparkle fest. The twinkling lights were strewn across the entire length of the window sill, interspersed with tiny fluffy snowmen, pine cones and reindeer figurines. Leah, Sunny and Simon looked awfully festive amidst all this holiday cheer. It was exactly what the desk dwellers needed after such a trying time. The humans seemed in good spirits as well. Often singing along to some of the carols on the radio. Benjamin and Charley did their best not to chuckle at the attempts of their enthusiastic human desk buddies.
The older gentleman had returned from his hiatus. To say he brightened up the place as much as the lights had would be a lie. He sat behind his desk, quiet as a mouse, radiating darkness. An invisible cloud that hung above him made a grumbling sort of noise every now and then. The gentleman had worked for this company for nearly 40 years now. His knowledge extended far beyond the necessary qualifications needed to succesfully carry out their tasks. Other humans sparsely interacted with him. Whenever they needed help they only plucked up the courage to ask the old gentleman for it, once every other avenue was explored first. On rare days he gladly obliged, but on many more, all anyone got was a inaudible brush off from a grumpy old man with no plants on his desk.
An annoying, monotonous tone filled the room. Burley, who stood closest to the the grumpy old man, was pulled from his midday nap abruptly by this incessant noise. Since this was an office and phones rang all the time there was nothing particularly peculiar about it. What was peculiar, however, was the voice that anwered it.
In a low, but calm voice the old gentleman spoke to the other human on the line. It was the right time to be waking up, because what Burley overheard next would have a great impact on them all. Apparently they were all to be moved to a smaller room.
When Burley announced this to his plant family later that evening, there were mixed feelings all around. Sunny, Simon and Leah were the most reluctant. They'd grown rather fond of their cosy spot on the window sill. Especially now that they were decked out with boughs of holly. Sunny so enjoyed watching the fire prevention team that housed just across from their building, give demonstrations outside to various office workers in the neighbourhood.
Would she still be able to observe them in their new office? Would she even be stood by the window? Or would she be moved to a desk instead?
As was often the case with Lance and Benjamin they shed a new light on the subject with their shared point of view that this might be exactly what they all needed. A fresh start. Away from the turmoil they'd experienced for the past weeks.
"You'll see, this will be good for us all," Benjamin said.
When the time came for the big move everything moved at lightening speed. Lots of running back of forth by all the humans. The plants were carefully transported from one space to another. The redheaded human was not in the office that day, but her friendly co-worker with the blonde curls took great care in bringing Benjamin over to his new desk. He took in his surroundings. All the desks and chairs were of the same type as the ones in their old office, but this desk was tucked against one side of the wall, creating a cosy nook for him and his human desk buddy. As he looked up he saw the tallest plant he'd ever seen. It was a palm tree of sorts.
Benjamin waited until the dark and quiet took over the building.
"Hi there, nice to meet you. My name is Benjamin. What's yours?"
The giant palm turned to look at the tiny ficus who spoke to her.
"Well hello there," she seemed to pause to ponder the answer to Benjamin's question. "I don't think I have a name yet. Do you all have names?"
All the plants rustled their leaves in affirmation. Sunny, Simon and Leah were pleased as well as relieved to have retained their window sill spot and were joined by Burley even. It took him a second or two to get used to the idea, but his three companions made sure the transition was an easy one by getting him up to speed on all the latest that had happened in the neighbourhood.
Benjamin went around the room to introduce the family of desk dwellers. Lance had a spot closest to Benjamin and their new palm friend. Charley was placed right next to Benjamin exactly like before.
"So now we have to think of a name for you. Our newest member of the family," Benjamin said.
The palm beamed with joy, "Gosh I've never had such a lovely group of plants before. Before you all came along I was the only one here."
"What would you like your name to be?" asked Sunny from her new spot on the much smaller window sill.
The palm stayed quiet for a moment, "How about, Arica?"
The desk dwellers rustled their leaves in approval and Benjamin turned to her, "That sounds perfect, Arica, welcome to the family."
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