The Photosynthesizer
Özge Baykan
“Where did you get it from?” he asked.
“Shh. Do not break his heart,” she answered.
“Heart? The plant’s heart you mean?
“He is not a plant. He is simply a man. I got him from the “Photosynthesizers” section.
“What are we going to do now?”
“So, during the day he will do it in the bedroom, and at night, in the living room.
“Do what?”
“Photosynthesis.”
“So, you mean, I am going to sleep with him now??” he shouted.
“Well, no. We will carry him to the living room at night. Then, we will have fresh air in the bedroom during the day, isn’t it wonderful, dear? I chose him especially because he has strong lungs, he will give more oxygen than an ordinary plant. His breath is strong. Look at him, big, huh?”
Three days later, they realized that the Photosynthesizer silently gives off oxygen. They watered him regularly. On the forth day, the Photosynthesizer thanked them.
“Thank you. But I have a request: could you please carry me over there, and not here? Because I can’t get enough light, so…”
“Ah, we are so sorry Mister. You have enough water?”
“Excellent. Thanks.”
When the guests came in, they covered the Photosynthesizer with leaves.
“Why do you photosynthesize?” Mr. Host asked one day.
“Because it is enough to make me survive.”
“Indeed. What could one do under these living conditions, if not photosynthesis? Even given the price of bread. Oh, you also produce your own starch, right? If you have problems with finding enough carbon dioxide I can take you to our factory…”
“No, thank you very much. I will let you know in case I need something.”
Another day, Mr. Host was wondering again.
“Excuse me, what was your name again?”
“It is against my principals to reveal it.”
“I see, whatever you like. May we call you Mr. Synthesis?”
“Sure.”
“Then, dear Mr. Synthesis, would you mind showing me and my wife some of your chlorophylls?”
He could not explain why he couldn’t. They probably resented him a little bit.
They would treat Mr. Synthesis as a guest. They would fulfil every request, but he did not have any, anyways.
One day, Madame Host happened to say, on one occasion when her husband was not around:
“Mr. Synthesis, pardon me, I interrupted your photosynthesis but I have a question: Do you like fish?”
The Photosynthesizer was surprised but did not let it show.
“Not really, why? You are making fish tonight?” (He laughed, and let her laugh)
“Well, no. Apparently our neighbor has an aquarium; and she is wondering which plant to buy for it. Please do not get mad at me, but I thought of you. We want to go on vacation for couple of days too, so…
The Photosynthesizer kindly refused the proposal.
Another day,
“Dear friend, you produce so much glucose, and the sugar has become very expensive these days. Can you save a few kilos of sugar for us,” Mr. Host said jokingly.
The Photosynthesizer was happy, he was nicely treated, just like a guest.
“It has been four months,” the Photosynthesizer said one day.
The spring has come.
“I need to reproduce, too. No walking around, I am home every day. Standing up all the time like this is tiring. Since the cold days are over, I can go back to my mountains,” he said sadly.
“We understand, Mr. Synthesis, please come again,” they said.
Then, Mr. Synthesis left for his spring journey. Completely independent.
©Özge Baykan