A lonely flower

standing in a vase.

A true flower, living, the sharp tips of its leaves turning brown. It must have been expensive, but they do not know who put it there or why - no one has done this before.

B sees it first. He picks it up, curious, but he has little interest in such things from outside. Replacing it, he creates a mechanical replica. It makes C smile, and look at the original with sunlight in his eyes.

A might have done the same, but he did not see it first. He leaves the flower

plucked bare.