The Garden by

KIM

vogelroom112_o1 — 2013-10-04 13:51:07 UTC

I am 14 years old. I still plant my lima beans, but yesterday they were destroyed by a haggardly, old man in a pick up truck came into our gardan stomping around in large boots that were caked with mud. Many of our plants were smashed and where a beautiful patch of flowers were, there is now trash. Though, the garden has not been a lot for five years, but still it is treated like one.

MARICELA

vogelroom112_o1 — 2013-10-04 13:59:26 UTC

I am 21 years old and now have two children, Emily and Jack, and a husband, Mark Anderson, he is a computer technician. I am a stay-at-home mom and love my children with all my heart. Looking back at how I used to feel about children, I think, how could I have ever done thought like that?

AMIR

vogelroom112_o1 — 2013-10-04 14:12:17 UTC

I am 40 now, and still work in the garden. All the gardeners know me and I know them. We are no longer isolated. We are about to have one of our garden festivals. They are grand and splendid. We all share our what we have grown. In the past, I have gotten a bouquet of flowers and a strange vegetable of origin that is unkown to me. But, at the last festival, a man came to the garden while we were trading and stole many of our plants. We were outraged and searched for the man, but we had no luck. We are trying to make better security measures, though and we hope for the best.

LEONA

vogelroom112_o1 — 2013-10-04 14:21:08 UTC

I am 45 years old. I plant in the garden, work at an antique shop, and look after my niece, Clara. She is 14 years old, so she hangs out with Kim a lot. They are together working on the lima beans that Kim always plants. While she is busy with Kim, I take in new gardeners and teach them how to plant. More and more people are visiting the gardens. Though, I am concerned that they will try to smuggle the plants out of the garden, or will trample all the vegetables.

CURTIS

vogelroom112_o1 — 2013-10-04 14:32:05 UTC

I am 33 years old and married to Lateesha. We have a son named Leo. He is 2 and seems to be in love with Jell-O. He will eat

it anywhere. I work at a gym that I manage and after I am done working, I plant tomatoes with Lateesha while Leo is at a baby daycare. Though, Lateesha seems distant lately and I wonder why.

GONZALO

vogelroom112_o1 — 2013-10-04 14:37:50 UTC

I am 18 years old and am currently attending the University of Chicago. I think I might become a lawyer. My father has become a world famous lettuce supplier. He acts like I am still a child ,though. Always asking me if I wanted a bike, or a video game. I hope he realizes that I am NOT a kid anymore.