Title: Plant-Like


Three men are talking in an office.

Man #1: But dad, why can’t me and Todd share the park 50/50?

Dad: Oh come on Rick don’t take it like I don’t love you. I just think Todd is more sophisticated for the job.

Rick: But I don’t understand why you chose Todd rather than Steve, Vanessa, Jack, Chris, Janet, me?

Dad: Rick, Todd’s just more sophisticated than you for the job.

Rick: Sure.

Todd: Screw off Rick, you’re just jealous.

Rick: Prick.

Dad: That’s enough Rick. I just think Todd’s more sophisticated for owning the park than you are. Now if you don’t mind can you leave? Todd and I have important business matters to attend to.

Rick: You never even have loved me dad. Assholes.

Rick walked out of the office.

THE NEXT DAY

Rick enters a YMCA. He logs his name in and walks in a basketball court. He grabs a ball and starts shooting buckets. He starts hitting every shot.

Rick: The goal sure seems shorter today.

He walked up to it and his head hit the top part of the net.

Rick: This must be the kid’s goal or something.

He started walking to every goal and his head reached the top part of the net on every goal.

Rick: That’s strange.

He walked out the basketball court and left the YMCA.

He starts walking down a street to get to his car.

Rick: Shitt! Everybody seems to be short here or something.

He walks by a street basketball court seeing a lot of men playing on it.

Rick: Maybe the YMCA had the goals set up for kids I’ll check these goals out.

He walked into the street basketball court, grabbed a ball, and ran to a goal to shoot a lay up he jumped and his hand dunked the ball. Rick landed back on the ground.

Rick: That’s odd, never have dunked the ball before.

He looked at the goal and realized his head reached the top part of the net.

Rick: What the hell’s going on here? Why am I so tall?

He walked out the street basketball court. He got inside his parked car only his head touched the roof of the car.

Rick: Well, this is odd.

He ducked his head a little so his head wouldn’t be bumping against the roof of the car.

He drove off.

THE NEXT DAY

Rick woke up in his apartment. He walked to his bathroom doorway but his head bumped against the top of it.

Rick: Ah, shitt.

He ducked his head to get inside the bathroom. He checked the bathroom mirror.

Rick: Holy Shitt!

He grabbed his face. His face turned into a light brown color.

Rick: What the hell’s wrong with me? I got to call a doctor!

He quickly called a doctor on his phone.

Rick: Yeah hello, Dr. Starr. Listen can I make an appointment today?

Dr. Starr(on phone): Sure, what time?

Rick: How about 11:30?

Dr. Starr( on phone): Sure, Rick.

Rick: Thanks.

He hung up the phone. Rick walked out the front doorway only his head hit the top of it.

Rick: Damn, I got to watch out for those things.

He ducked his head and walked out of his apartment.

DOCTOR STARR’S WAITING ROOM

Rick walked up to the receptionist’s desk.

Rick: Can I get one of those little information papers?

Receptionist: Sure.

Suddenly Dr. Starr walked up.

Dr. Starr: Oh no, Rick you don’t need one of those. Just follow me.

Rick: Okay.

Rick followed Dr. Starr to a little office. Rick ducked his head as he walked through a doorway. Dr. Starr followed Rick in the office and sat in a desk. Rick sat down in the chair in front of Dr. Starr’s desk.

Dr. Starr: So Rick what’s the problem?

Rick: Dr. Starr, just yesterday I’ve noticed I’m getting taller and me body is turning all brown. I have no clue what’s going on.

Dr. Starr: Well, have you experienced any stress lately Rick?

Rick: Well, kind of I mean I’m still mad at my dad for leaving the park to Todd. Kind of pissed me off.

Dr. Starr: Well I’ll check you for anything.

The two walk into a little room. Dr. Starr checks Rick for any infections.

Dr. Starr: Well, really there’s nothing wrong with you Rick.

Rick: Then what the hell’s going on with me skin, doc?

Dr. Starr: Probably just an overload of stress if you ask me Rick.

Rick: Whatever. Thanks for your time.

Dr. Starr: No problem Rick.

They head to the front desk where Rick pays Dr. Starr.

Rick leaves the building and gets in his car having to duck his head again. Rick drives off.

THAT NIGHT

Rick is in his apartment.

Rick: Maybe I should give Steve a call.

He picked up the phone and dialed Steve’s number.

Voice: Hello?

Rick: Hey, is Steve Starkey there?

Voice: Who?

Rick: Steve Starkey.

Voice: Who the hell is that?

Rick: Sorry, I think I dialed the wrong number.

Voice: Whatever.

Rick hung up the phone. He dialed Steve’s number again.

Voice: Yeah, hello?

Rick: Is Steve Starkey there?

Voice: You’re that same dude that called me a couple of minutes ago.

Rick: Oh sorry about that.

Rick hung up the phone.

Rick: That’s odd. I’ll just call Janet.

He dialed Janet’s number.

Voice: Hello?

Rick: Is Janet Starkey there?

Voice: Never heard of her.

Rick: Sorry wrong number.

Rick hung up.

Rick: What about Jack?

He dialed Jack’s number.

Voice: Hello?

Rick: Is Jack Starkey there?

Voice: No, never heard of the person.

Rick: Wrong number, sorry.

He hung up.

Rick: Damn, what the hell is going on?

One by one Rick called all his brothers and sisters except for Todd.

Rick: Where did everybody go? Weird!

THE NEXT MORNING

Rick woke up and went inside his bathroom this time remembering to duck under the doorway. He looked in the mirror.

Rick: AHHH!!

A stick was growing out of his forehead.

Rick: Shitt!

He quickly grabbed a pair of scissors and cut the stick off his head.

Rick: Jesus Christ! What the hell was that!?

Suddenly his phone rang. Rick ran and picked it up.

Rick: Yeah, hello?

Voice: Rick.

Rick: Dad.

Voice: Hey Rick.

Rick: Dad, what do you want?

Voice: Can you come over Rick, to the office.

Rick: Why?

Voice: I’ve been thinking about letting you become owner of the park once I retire.

Rick: Oh sure, be right there.

Rick quickly hung up the phone, got dressed, and rushed out his apartment and ducked inside his car. He drove to his dad’s office building.

OFFICE

Rick walked in.

Rick: Yeah dad, so what do you want?

Dad: Oh hello Rick.

Todd was standing in front of him.

Rick: Well, what’s going on dad? Am I getting ownership of the park?

Dad: Oh yeah, in fact you’re now part of it.

Rick: What the hell do you mean?

Dad: Sit down and let me tell you.

Rick sat down in front of his dad.

Dad: Rick, have you been wondering what the hell’s been going on with you the last few days?

Rick: How did you know, dad?

Dad: Listen Rick, I’m not your dad you’re not even a human.

Rick: What the hell are you talking about?

Dad: You’re a plant seed just like Steve and the others.

Rick: What?

Dad: Do you know why you’re turning brown and getting so damn tall? Look you’re starting to grow a damn branch out of your head.

Rick: So, what are you getting at?

Dad: You’re a tree.

Rick: WHAT?

Dad: Yes, you are. Not fully grown though. Listen Rick, my only son was Todd. You, Jack, Steve, Janet, and the others are just seeds. A while back 6 of my most precious rare trees which were grown side by side caught on fire a couple of weeks ago my business at the park has flunked like shitt. So I heard about some weird seeds invented by a scientist. I paid him money to get these seeds to grow the rare trees back quicker. The thing about them is the seeds develop beginning in human form. Notice Rick you don’t ever work, you have no childhood memories, Notice you never fill out information forms either. Once you’re planted in the ground roots automatically shoot out. It’s an amazing invention that scientist made. Now, you’re starting to turn into a tree just like Steve, Janet, & the others. You’re taller, turning brown, growing bloody branches on your head.

Rick: No, no..

Dad: It’s true Rick. You’re a bloody tree.

Todd standing behind Rick shoved a needle in Rick’s arm. Rick blacked out.

Dad: Let’s get him out of here and prepare to plant him in the park.

Todd and Dad( Mr. Starkey) carried Rick’s tree body out of the office.

THE NEXT DAY

6 new trees standing side by side in “The Starkey Park” attract a crowd.

Rick has now turned into a fully grown tree.

Todd: So dad, how are the ticket sales going?

Dad: Ever since I announced the rare trees are back the tickets have been selling by the shitt load. Who would’ve ever thought, seeds turning into humans then into trees. Who would’ve ever thought?

He smiles as more people arrive to see the rare trees.

 

 

Author's Note:

 

The inspiration for this one came from playing basketball at the YMCA. I remember I was wanting to come up with a story that day, and while I was playing basketball, I envisioned a chap growing so tall that his head touched the basketball goal net. I then came up with the idea that this chap was turning into a bloody tree! I love this story, and it’s probably in me top ten stories from this collection. I remember when I posted this story at a horror fan club, and a chap told me that he enjoyed it, especially the ending since he was expecting Rick to be turning into another race. The twist ending is excellent in this story, and the only problem I have with it is maybe the dialogue’s not very good. Other than that, I thought this story was excellent.