MAY 19, 2023 TRUTH OR LIES The town of Junken FELICIA WILBERT Groundcover vendor No. 234 It's 8 a.m., school is out, and May is bored and upset. There's nothing in this town to do! May was fed up with the town of Junken. Being a 13-yearold with no summer plans was hard to face. May looked around her small town and declared that things had to change. She was tired of all the trash and dirt. May could not remember ever seeing green grass or flowers in her town; trees did not grow either. Early the next morning she visited the library to research Junken's history, only to be disappointed by not finding any information concerning the lack of greenery. She decided to ask the elderly people of her town, visiting the only convalescent home, where her grandmother resided. “Hi Granny! I am glad to see you,” said May. Granny Alpton replied saying, “What can I help you with today, my flower?” May smiled and asked her, “How come there are no flowers, grass or trees that grow?” Granny Alpton smiled and said, “My dear, people don’t realize how important it is to keep the town clean. Mother Nature is upset with the people of Junken; they destroyed the natural process of nature. They polluted and littered the town with trash and abandoned autos. Oil spills in the water and plastic trash also. Don't you see the trash in the lake? It's killing all the fish and wildlife who depend on that water! If only they would change their ways before the last tree dies. If the last tree dies the town will forever be barren.” May jumped up and thanked her granny, kissing her goodbye. She had to come up with a plan to save the last tree and grow the grass and plants back. May went home, excited, and explained to her mother and father about the last tree dying. She got her construction paper to design a flier inviting the whole town to clean and organize the town. May then designed a greenery plan for how to turn the soil and plant flowers and grass. She then organized a town meeting and refused to accept no from any adult. The event was to take place April 1-7, meeting at the water fountain in downtown Junken. She explained to the town’s folk how they killed the greenery and flowers. “Now it’s only one tree left,” she said. May pleaded with everyone to help remove the abandoned autos and trash from every street and house. Some people griped; however, everyone who could, participated. They were willing and wanted to see the town become Junken once again and not Junk-ville. Once the trash was removed she instructed everyone to plant grass and flower seeds, hoping they would grow. Two weeks passed. No flowers or grass grew and the tree was still dying. May cried with disappointment. How could this be? she wondered. She returned to her granny and told her what she had done, and how nothing grew. Her granny laughed and said, “You rushed out of here the last time you visited with me, not letting me explain to you what needs to be done.” May was curious and impatient wanting to know the solution, asking, “What is it, Granny?” Granny Alpton said to her, “You must apologize to Mother Nature and keep the town clean!” “How do you do that? Apologize how?” “I need you to go into your parents’ barn and find a green box. It's in the last cabinet. Once you find it, open the box. It has an old bird's nest in it, containing seeds that need to be planted at the edge of the forest. Once you plant the seeds you must say out loud, ‘Please forgive us for we did not understand the importance of your plan. Will you continue with your plan? We shall keep our covenant with you and keep the town clean. Please restore your beauty in our town.’” May thanked her grandmother and ran to find the box in the barn. Once she located the box she rushed to the edge of the forest to plant the seeds. May recited what Granny told her to say. May cried herself to sleep, hoping the flowers, grass and trees would be restored. It rained so much in April that May wondered how anything could grow. On Sunday, the 1st of May, she awoke to the sun shining and birds chirping. She looked out the window and saw flowers, green grass and green trees. May screamed, thanking Mother Nature. Sirenia the Artist, published May 5, was FALSE. GROUNDCOVER NEWS May horoscope to maintain a mindful and grounded approach. If you do too much or too little, then the opportunity will shrivel up and die. Gemini (May 21-June 20): IAN DEWEY Groundcover contributor Something seems to be pestering you, and although it has never been the most opportune moment to deal with it, nevertheless it has been draining. Now is the time to find a solution to this problem that plagues you. Cancer (June 21-July 22): FlucThe height of a fever pitch rings as a daydream does — first, the foray into some unknown enterprise, then the delirium catches on into a bittersweet image of lands one will never traverse (except as imagination); finally, the catapult back into reality. It was a dream — or was it? You are stuck in the desert of the real, just as all of us are. Read on to understand how to best navigate this domain. Capricorn (December 21 - January 20): The time for understanding has reached an impasse: that is, you are either headed towards a period of rest and relaxation, or a period of hardship and toil. You must choose wisely here, and assess your situation for whether it is best to take a break or not. Aquarius (January 20-February 18): Longevity eludes you in any capacity in regards to taking on projects. This can be a blessing in some ways, but a curse in others. Old skills and relationships will come to bloom in this period, whereas new ones will be hindered due to a lack of focus. Pisces (February 19-March 20): Just as a flower comes to fruition in the spring, so too will your love for life come to a peak. Beauty, and comprehension through beauty, is your primary attribute at this moment. Spending this time in creative pursuits is likely your best bet. Aries (March 21-April 19): When the steam of anger finally passes, pause and take a breath. You have likely mis-evaluated the situation, and have not considered all sides of the story. If there isn’t time to reconsider the situation, step away. This practice will yield great returns in the future. Taurus (April 20-May 20): You have likely come into some piece of good news, a new opportunity or have made a fruitful relationship in some capacity. Take advantage of this, but remember tuations in mood and temperament have made each rise feel like a gamble. Some days are exceptional, others awful, and some still mediocre. Instead of trying to force each day to be good, instead use each day as a lesson to understand your peculiar disposition. Leo (July 23-August 22): Strength is your primary attribute at this time. Whether it be physical prowess or mental resolve, you have the endurance and constitution now to take on demanding tasks. If you seize on this, it will yield good returns. Virgo: (August 23-September 22) Someone is trying to tell you something that you’ve ignored for far too long. Either it is due to some personal failing (which can certainly be remedied through introspection), or due to a lack of attention directed towards them. In any case, now is the time to stop talking and start listening. Libra (September 23-October 22): A new era seems to be dawning, but many haven’t wisened up to this fact. Luckily, you can take advantage of this circumstance. Right now, you are very in touch with the natural and physical world. Be sure to use this to your advantage. Scorpio (October 23-November 21): Your physical health needs paying attention to. This is the case with everyone through all times, but it is especially the case for you now. Some sort of habit or routine in your daily life is hindering your capacity to flourish and grow. Fix this, and this time period will be much better. Sagittarius (November 22-December 21): Common wisdom that you have disregarded in the past would be of great help in the current moment. Speaking with relatives, old acquaintances and old friends can do much to revive this “common sense” that you have neglected for far too long. 9
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