Once upon a time, there was a red flower.

It didn't really have a name, so the flower decided to pin a name

on itself!

"I shall call myself  "Beauty" because my petals are full and soft

and fragrant. I will stand in the sunshine and with each passing day,

I will become more beautiful."

The flower was one of many in the garden but don't tell the flower

that!  The garden was lush and green and admired by many. For you

see, this garden was located in the center of town.  And one person

was in charge of watering the flowers, once a day. Her name

was Rose.

One day Rose came upon the flower, knelt down and touched

the petals softly. She smiled.

"I think I will call you Rose, after myself. You are sweet and

simple, just like me."

The flower became very angry and started to scream.

Rose was curious about the flower and put her ear to the flower.

"I never heard a flower scream before. How silly you are! What right

do you have to become angry at the one person that give you

water each day and talks to you!  You should have better

manners than that. You are a rude flower!"

The flower became angrier and started to scream louder and shake.

"How dare you call me rude!! My name is Beauty, not Rose!! Why would

I want to be named after you? You are not beautiful like me!! I am

Beauty, just take a look at me! Anyone can see that!! What do they

say when they look at you? You are plain!!"

Rose thought a moment and she scolded the flower.

"You are wrong to judge me so harshly, Flower. I will not call you

Rose nor Beauty! I will call you , "Vanity", for you are so full

of yourself, that you don't know what is good for you!! Don't you

realize you need water to survive? How long will your "Beauty"

last without water? "

The flower became angrier and screamed so loud all the people

in the park turned around. The grass quaked and the children ran

home.

"Go away, Rose. You are plain. You are not beautiful like me. I

don't want your water. I have the sunshine. You can call me anything

you want. Everyone thinks I am beautiful because I am a pretty

flower! Prettier than you, Rose!"

Rose looked down upon the flower.

She thought about overlooking flower's rudeness but decided

that flower needed a lesson to be learned instead.

"Okay, Flower, or whatever your name is this week. I still think

I will call you "Vanity". Have it your own way. You want me to go away?

Not water you each day? Fine!  Just see how long your will be

"Beauty" without water!"

With that, Rose walked away.

The weeks that followed, many people came to the park and admired

the flowers. The first week it rained, a soft rain that with the flower

had water enough to be in full bloom.

"How beautiful the flowers are in the park today! Especially this

flower. So lovely!!", the woman knelt down to admire the flower.

The flower was happy.

"Yes, I am Beauty. I am !!"

The woman did not expect the flower to speak.

"How can you speak? You are a flower! "

I don't know . I just do. I am special. I am Beauty!!

"Yes, I guess you are!  I will be back in a week to visit you again. I must go now. Goodbye Beauty!"

The next week was very hot and dry. There was no rain.

The ground became hard and the grass turned from a brilliant

green to yellow. The flower became very thirsty. And weaker

each day. The vibrant red petals started to fall off

one by one. But flower kept insisting she was Beauty

in a loud voice.

"I am Beauty! "

On the fifth day, the woman returned. The flower had only five petals

left. She gasped in horror.

"Where is the beautiful flower? What is this weed that is left?"

The flower could barely speak or stand tall. It bent over

with the wind.

"Please, I ask of you, some water, please! I fear I shall die

if I do not have water!", pleaded the flower.

The woman glared at the flower.

"Now why would I give water to a weed? Weeds are bad. Nobody

wants weeds. Flowers are beautiful! Please tell me where

Beauty is? "

Still weak from thirst, the flower whispered.

"I am Beauty. Help me."

The woman laughed and walked away.

The sun continued to shine relentlessly on the flowers in the park.

On the seventh day, Rose returned. She felt that the flower

had learned its lesson. But had to see for herself.

The flower had only two petals left. and was bent over completely.

Rose started to cry.

"Vanity?"

The flower did not repond at first, then a whisper.

"Help me, I am dying."

"Vanity, do you see now that Beauty is more than what you

see on the outside? You have been vain and rude to those

that try to give you life. And friendship.  Is beauty everything

to you?"

"Not anymore. It used to be. I need water please."

Rose took her water bucket and gave the flower lots of water

to drink. It took a while but the flower stood up tall once again, maybe

most of the petals were gone, but something wonderful

did happen.

The flower smiled at Rose.

"Thank you, Rose. I have been Vain and Rude, but I am

Grateful to you Rose for giving me life again. You may call

me Vanity if you wish. I am surely not Beauty. Look at me Rose."

Rose smiled.

"I shall call you Beauty!! For you have learned that  true

Beauty is in the heart and soul of you. Not what is on the outside.

What you lost is Vanity, and you have grown a new Heart!"

"What fragrance is sweeter than kindness and gratitude,

Beauty? ", Rose asked Beauty.

"I surely do not know, Rose.."

You will, my friend you will. For it is Love.