In one magical garden, the flowers were alive, just like people. What wasn't in this garden! There were lush crimson roses, blue primroses like the sky, and exotic orchids… All the flowers were friends with each other, laughed, played, and visited one another.
But amongst the flowers was a young bloke called Narcissus — he was particularly beautiful and at the same time arrogant. He wasn't mates with anyone, and answered the flowers' questions mockingly. He spent all his days beside the pond, whose still water surface reflected, like a mirror, his perfect cold beauty.
One day all the flowers gathered at the cheerful daisy sisters' place and started their favourite game of 'loves me, loves me not'. Fortune-telling with a daisy — the most reliable method. Whatever falls on the daisy's petals is definitely true! The guests managed to tell fortunes for all the garden's residents. The turn came to Narcissus.
The daisy mates laughed.
Well, no need to ask a fortune teller! Obviously it'll be 'loves me not'! He only loves himself.
But strangely — when they counted the petals — it came out 'loves me'.
The flowers began to argue: some said there must be a mistake — this unpleasant arrogant flower couldn't possibly love someone or be friends with anyone. Others were puzzled: fortune-telling with daisies can't be wrong. The argument didn't die down until the bravest Daisy suggested a solution.
How about I go and have a chat with him! We'll find out if it's true or not.
The flowers laughed, but let her go. Off she went to look for Narcissus throughout the garden. She didn't have to search long – he was at his favourite mirror pond in proud solitude.
Narcissus! Why are you sitting here alone? Must be boring here, in the company of your own reflection?
He didn't hide his irritation.
Push off, Daisy!
But she persisted.
Why do you act like this? Maybe you're so rude because you're lonely without mates?
From the embarrassed silence in response, Daisy understood she'd hit the mark. Then she suggested Narcissus come and play with the other flowers and convinced him that none of them felt irritation or dislike towards him. But he categorically refused to leave his pond, believing that no one would want to talk to him. And then Daisy said.
All you need to do is smile. You'll see, all the flowers will smile back at you.
What a surprise it was for the flowers when they saw Daisy together with Narcissus. And for the first time there was a smile on his face! The surprised flowers surrounded the young bloke and began bombarding him with questions. And it turned out he wasn't a haughty type at all — quite the opposite, actually.
From then on, peace and mutual understanding reigned in the magical garden. And Narcissus learnt an important lesson: if you want the world to smile at you — smile first!
