Seeds

My grandmother always carried Cosmos seeds on her person like she did her snuff box. Where ever she went, who ever she met, if there was some earth present in the scene, even in a pot, then the Cosmos seeds were doled out with the same solemnity  used to take a pinch of snuff before it went up the nose – a careful drawing together of the thumb and  forefinger so that just the right amount was gathered between them. When grandmother gave, recipients did as instructed so that plants would shoot up and flowers would splash out their myriad hues of glorious colour.  Thus my grandmother left a trail of colourful Cosmos behind her the way some women leave a whiff of memorable perfume as they drift out of a room.