The Lilac Shrooms
Two Forest Shrooms went for a walk one beautiful summer day. It was warm, so the Shrooms decided to rest in the shade.
“What is that smell?” asked one of the Shrooms. “It smells heavenly.”
“It does,” stated the other Shroom. “It seems to be coming from this bush that we are sitting under.”
“The smell is so invigorating,” said the one Shroom, putting his nose up to the bush and breathing in the wonderful scent.
The Shrooms couldn’t get enough of the smell. They broke off a couple of branches and took them back to their colony.
“They are lilacs,” said one of the Elder Shrooms. “Aren’t they just breathtaking!”
“Absolutely!” exclaimed the one Shroom.
“You know,” said the Elder. “It would be wonderful to create a fragrance with the lilacs. I am sure that every female Shroom would wear it and I am also sure that all the male Shrooms would go crazy over it.”
“Making a fragrance sounds like something I would love,” said the Shroom.
“I know you like playing around with chemistry,” said the Elder.
“I do,” said the Shroom. “I would think it best if we set up the lab to make the fragrance at the lilac bush location.”
“Good thinking,” said the Elder.
“The location we were at today is the best location,” said the Shroom. “There are many lilac bushes in that area.”
“No shortage of raw product,” said the Elder. “That is perfect.”
“Since I will set up the lab by the lilac bush,” said the Shroom. “I may as well start my own colony.”
“That would make sense,” said the Elder.
The two Shrooms said their goodbyes and were excited to start on their new life and new venture.
“Hold up!” the Shrooms heard.
Looking back, the Shrooms saw their cousin running toward them.
“Did we forget something?” asked one Shroom.
“You forgot me!” yelled their cousin. “Please, I want to come with you. I have just talked to the Elders and I have their permission.”
“Well,” said the other Shroom. “We could use your help, so come on. Let’s go!”
The Shrooms walked hand in hand to their new home. They were very excited about their new venture. They reached the lilac bushes just as it was getting dark. They decided they would sleep that night under the stars. It was still fairly warm.
Partway through the night, it started to rain. It was a warm, refreshing rain. The Shrooms gathered up some leaves from the lilac bush and huddled under them for the night. They were able to stay fairly dry. They didn’t need too many leaves because the Shrooms are only about an inch tall.
When morning came, the first thing the Shrooms did was find a mushroom they could use for their home. It didn’t take them very long. They found one right at the base of the lilac bush they slept in. They rigged up some branches to use as a ladder and then they carved out the inside of the mushroom. The mushroom was quite roomy but to them it didn’t really matter because they knew they would be spending most of their time outdoors.
About a week later, the Shrooms were working on setting up a lab when they noticed they had visitors.
“Oh my!” cried one of the Shrooms, seeing a group of Elders from their home colony, come for a visit. “This is a surprise.”
The Elders were curious as to how the Shrooms were settling in. They were amazed at the progress they had made.
“We have a gift for you,” said the Elders.
The Elders took a few packages out of the sacks they were carrying and presented them to the Shrooms. The Shrooms were ecstatic when they saw the gifts the Elders gave them. They were beautifully sewn gowns. They were all made in the shades of the lilacs with beautiful greenery included.
“The three of you are now officially the Lilac Shrooms,” said one of the Elders.
“Thank you,” said Cousin Shroom, who was very proud of becoming a Lilac Shroom and being part of a new colony and new business adventure.
The Elders stayed and enjoyed a meal with the Lilac Shrooms. Then they had to get back home.
“We will do the next visit,” said the Lilac Shroom.
“And by the looks of your setup, it looks like you will be making some lilac fragrance very soon,” said the Elder.
“Yes,” said the Lilac Shroom. “It won’t be long.”
The Elders waved goodbye. The Lilac Shrooms went right back to work. They worked day and night setting up the lab. When that was completed, they started making the lilac fragrance. Making the fragrance took a bit longer than they expected because they wanted it to be perfect. They took their first batch back to their home colony, the Forest Shrooms.
“This is heavenly,” said the Elder, spraying some of the fragrance on himself.
“What is that glorious scent?” asked another of the Elders, loving the fragrance.
“That is the new lilac fragrance from our new colony, the Lilac Shrooms,” said the Elder.
The Shrooms, all across Canada, loved the lilac fragrance. The Lilac Shrooms had a thriving business, keeping Shrooms in lilac fragrances. Eventually, they branched out into soaps, powders, and scented candles.
Everything went well for the Lilac Shrooms for centuries. The lilac bushes were flourishing and they kept them in raw goods for a very long time. However, during the past decade or so, the Lilac Shrooms have noticed the lilacs haven’t been as fragrant as they should. This was a huge concern for the Lilac Shrooms.
All Shrooms have prior knowledge of a prophecy that took place. The prophecy was happening to help the Shrooms address some environmental issues by enlisting the help of humans. Up until the day of the prophecy, not one single Shroom has ever been seen by a human.
The Lilac Shrooms only knew of one human. He was a delivery driver. He would pass by close to their home, every weekday to do his deliveries to a factory that was on the other side of a river that flowed by them. Often, the delivery driver would eat his lunch in his truck.
The Lilac Shrooms have been observing the delivery driver now for years.
“The delivery driver will help us,” said one of the Lilac Shrooms.
“Yes,” said Cousin Shroom. “I do think he will. He does seem pleasant enough.”
The Lilac Shrooms set out very early the next morning. They reached the spot where the delivery driver usually ate his lunch. The delivery driver stepped out of his truck, just as they approached. The Lilac Shrooms knew they would have to do something to get his attention. After all, they are only about an inch tall.
The Lilac Shrooms saw some small twigs on the side of the road. They picked them up and started waving them in the air, as high and as frantically as they could.
“What is going on?” asked the delivery driver, catching a glimpse of the twigs and then noticing the Lilac Shrooms. “Who are you?”
The Lilac Shrooms explained to the delivery driver who they were and that they desperately needed his help to save their lilac bushes.
“I know nothing about lilacs, except that I love their scent,” stated the delivery driver.
“That may be true,” said one of the Lilac Shrooms. “However, you do know a lot of people. You could help us raise awareness about what is going on with our lilac bushes.”
“I could definitely do that,” said the delivery driver.
“That would be wonderful,” said the Lilac Shrooms. “We would be eternally grateful.”
The delivery driver did start raising awareness and there were a lot of people that wanted to meet the Lilac Shrooms. The Lilac Shrooms had no problem with that. They started noticing little by little that the lilac bushes seemed to be more fragrant, once again.
The prophecy had come true, and the Lilac Shrooms’ efforts had a lasting impact on both their colony and the human world. The lilac bushes continued to bloom beautifully, their scent filling the air and bringing joy to all who encountered it.
And so, the Lilac Shrooms lived happily ever after, their legacy of fragrance and environmental stewardship enduring for centuries to come.
Moral of this Story:
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