Chilling With The Vain Chilli

The evening sun was bright, shining in its warm glow as it basked the earth in reddish-golden hues. It was the kind of glow that was only prominent in the evenings, the singular moment when the sun was preparing to disappear into the sea. It was at this time that Tessa went to do her evening rounds in her garden.

She ran her fingers lightly over each plant, each shrub, up to the littlest bud. The guava trees were flourishing with green fruits glittering on their branches. She made a mental note to harvest them the next day and kept moving on till she got to the last of her Thai Chili plants. She let out a wistful sigh and touched the single chilli affectionately.

“Why wouldn’t you just let your sisters bloom as beautifully as you do?”

The Chili swayed from side to side. “Humans,” it hissed. “So unpredictable. You would think she would be a little more appreciative to see my bright colour."

Tessa made a face. It wasn’t the first time Chili had said things like this. Her arrogance had made even the most promising bud shrivel so that in the entire plant, Chili was the only one and she basked in the fact that she’d scared the other Chillies away. “I understand that you want to constantly be the prettiest in the room. But if others get pretty as well, it wouldn’t be so bad.”

She scoffed at her. “As if. Move human. I heard the evening rays are good for my glow.”

“Oh Chili, what to do with you.”

“Uhmmm....I can imagine a few things you can do,” She made a face like she was thinking. “Maybe get out of my face so I can get my beauty rays??”

Tessa grumbled and shifted a bit so the darned thing could get her rays. She used the opportunity to take a picture of her. Chilli really was an arrogant biatch but she was incredibly pretty. She could at least give her that as she watched her sway her ends like she wanted to catch every bit of sun.

“Okay, I’m done now,” Chili said with quick breaths. “Oooo I can already feel that Vitamin D seeping in. Do you feel it, T. Lol, I bet you don’t. What’s with this uncolourful brown skin though? Too classy for a little bit of sunlight?”

Tessa made a fist like she was going to punch her but Chili only cackled. The crackhead knew she wouldn’t dare. Tessa turned away for a minute and began to think. On a good day, she would keep bantering with the vain Chili. But she needed to find a way to get her to give the other Chillies a chance to grow. The sun was very near setting when the idea finally hit Tessa and she gasped with glee as she turned to a bored-looking Chili. What better way to appeal to the vain than say something that threatened their vanity?

“You know, Chili. There’s something I don’t think you realized about letting the others grow.”

She groaned. “Again with this? Give up already Tessa. I already said-”

“I know, I know.” Tessa cut in exasperatedly. “But did you know I heard Mama say something about you being too ripe so she’d have you ready for the next meal?”

Was it possible for something so red to get so pale? Cause Tessa could swear that Chili's red skin blanched. “She said that?”

“And that’s not all. She kept saying that if there were others she could use, she’d have let you enjoy your sunbathes undisturbed but as there’s no alternative, she doesn’t have an op.... Chili, Chili. What are you doing?” Chili had turned her head and begun to furiously whisper to the branches.

“What do you think I’m doing? Asking for the others that they can sprout now.”

Tessa chuckled. “Or you’re begging them.”

“Please, I would never.” But then she went back to whispering in even more pleading tones. Tessa laughed as she made her way back inside. When she woke up the next morning and peeped from the kitchen window to see newly forming green peppers everywhere, she grinned to herself. The sole Chili wasn’t alone anymore.

Jhymi🖤

---

Image is mine.

My entry to _{The Weekly Creative Garden Challenge}