The Downfall of Dandelion Kingdom

Just a little something that popped into my head, let me know what you think.

Back home, we never mowed our lawn. My parents would always complain about it, but were too busy writing another one of their long, boring books, about who knows what, to do anything. They acted as if they wanted me to mow the lawn. Of course they knew I never would even think of doing such a thing. I loved my jungle.

The grass was bright and vivid from all the rain we got, and it grew up to the middle of my calves. Yellow dandelions were sprinkled here and there, like gold stars in a green sky. It was beautiful. I did my best imagining laying on my back, fists full of my soft carpet.

I'm a writer too, but not like my parents. They just ramble on about history nobody cares about in size eleven Times New Roman font. I write about fairies, how they are there, but we can't see them. I write about magic, and adventure, things people actually like to hear about. So what better place to think.. no, my parents think, I imagine. What better place to imagine new ideas for the story about the fairies of the Dandelion Kingdom, in my own Dandelion Kingdom?

But when my parents actually wrote a bestseller, they decided we needed to move to some suburban development. I was mad. I had been living in our tiny little house with the overgrown yard my whole life. I never wanted to leave. But my parents told me that there was a bigger yard, and lots of other teenagers. That socializing would be good for me. I disagreed, but of course, I had no choice. They are the parents I am the kid. I don't get a say in anything. So we moved.

The house was nice enough, but it had no character. It was brand new, and identical to every single house in the neighborhood. And the grass, was itchy. Sure, the lawn back home was itchy, but I didn't notice it because it was my lawn.

I discovered that the new lawn wasn't mine. The lawn was cut short when we first moved in, but soon enough, it was up to my ankles. I was starting to get good ideas for stories when I lay down on the lawn. But one morning, I woke up to the hum of a lawn mower. I peeked out my window. Sure enough, Mr. Davis from across the street was sitting on his mower, destroying my carpet. I felt like my life's savings was just used to stoke a fire.

I dashed down the stairs, not even bothering to slip my sandals on. I stepped onto the porch, and Mr. Davis looked at me.

"Howdy neighbor, hope you don't mind, but I've noticed you guys haven't mowed your lawn since you moved in!" He said, turning off his lawn mower and wiping the sweat off of his brow. "Did anyone fill you in on the rules?"

"W-what rules?" I stammered, to confused and disappointed to speak or think clearly.

"Lawns must be kept at a uniform two inches. Ain't you glad I did it before y'all got yourselves into trouble?" he chuckled. "Well, I'm just about done. Tell your parents I loved the book." And he turned on his mower and left.

I sat down on my steps and sighed. Looking over the fresh cut grass, I realized, this wasn't my lawn, not my Dandelion Kingdom. It was just a sea of uniform two inch green. I stood up and went inside, depressed.

My mom and dad were sitting on the couch in their pajamas, watching the news.

"Now, wasn't that nice of him, mowing our lawn like that? I didn't know there was a rule!" Mom laughed after I told her what happened, taking a sip of her tea. She furrowed her brow and cocked her head. "Hon, you don't look to good. Why don't you sit down and I'll get you a bagel."

"No thanks Mom, I'm not hungry." I sighed. "I think I'll just go up to my room."

"You really shouldn't be sleeping in so-"

"Dad," I cut him off. "The stupid lawn mower woke me up. I'm tired."

"Ok sweetie," Dad sighed. "Get some rest."

I felt like I got absolutely no sleep. I was dreaming the whole two and a half hours. The fairies, they were waving at me. They had packed up what was left of the kingdom and flew away. They were okay.

I was okay.

((This is the edited ending.))