Not based on true events

That day, Syrphid arrived to discover a distressed flower. Upon first sight of him, she cried out desperately, “Oh, Syrphid! What am I to do? Make haste to the other sunflower and ask her what I should do! Hurry!” Not one moment was lost on the hoverfly’s account and with freshly rested wings, he turned in a split second, and whizzed away with the voice of the sunflower echoing behind him. What was to be done? How could a rambling vine be stopped? Would he lose his flower friend forever? All these doubts, and many others crowded upon his mind as he sped away, but one thought rose uppermost: he would make sure the vine came no further. It was an anxious morning for the sunflower, and she drooped as she wondered if Syrphid would only arrive in the evening, when it might be too late. But then she remembered the advice of the sunflower far away, and she arose and spread herself out in the sunlight, and she felt strengthened, and the vine beneath her slowed its course in her shade. The sun rose up higher in the sky, and warmed all the earth, and before the sunflower realized, it was noon and the earth was happy. The flower no longer quailed at the thought of the lengthy wait before her. She had shut her eyes and though she felt the vine wind about her slowly, she was at peace. Suddenly, through this peace, a voice was heard. “ Sunflower! Sunflower! Hurry!” She reopened her eyes and beheld the fly hovering closer than ever to her face, zipping here and there in earnest energy. “Hurry! Join your leaves! Make sure that not a sliver of sunlight passes them! This is what she said! Hurry!” It took a moment for the sunflower to comprehend his rushed words, but when she did, she immediately knitted the shadows of her leaves together so that all about her feet was a circle of gloom. Syrphid, in the meantime, buzzed eagerly about this increasing shadow and alerted her of any sunny sliver which she missed. Whenever he passed the vine which was already partially up her stalk, he cried out: “ Go pick on someone your own size!” and abused it loudly. After all, it was a small vine compared with the sunflower. Finally, the task was complete, and all there was to do was wait. Syrphid landed upon one of the sunflower’s leaves and peered over at the vine. No movement could be seen. An hour passed, and still no result. The hoverfly turned to his friend and inquired if she felt any difference in the vine’s grip. “ N-no,” said she, “ It is what it was like before.” The fly gave a tiny, sad sigh, and again  looked at the vine, but even as he did so, the sunflower stirred, and he gazed again at her. “Wait,” she said, “ I can feel it loosening!”

To be continued...