Juicy Sparkle City

“Of the array of sunny morning varieties our City can choose from, She selected extra bold and buoyant to greet your first day here. Probably wishes to let you know that your attire here will be the loose and informal, as in sandals, shorts, light shirts.”

“I was just looking at the clothing I packed, which I had to bundle in back home, and appears useless here. I will adjust. And until I learn the language well enough to express my gratitude, I suppose I can perform to the city’s chosen sun my humble hello wave.”

“You do seem better rested since arriving.”

“Yes, the rest, getting shed of the jet lag. Helps a bunch. And speaking of a bunch, I will boldly insert an r to express gratitude and joy at this delectable brunch. The tomatoes alone! Oh but you far exceeded an extra mile. And I do not exaggerate or kiss up when I declare this to be the best glass of orange juice to ever pass through these lips. Further, if ever my taste buds did savor a better omelet... I’ve not traditionally been a man who appreciates onion in my omelet. But the taste of these onions in this omelet; soil here must be the most onion-friendly soil on earth. An equivalent experience must be from a past life, for I cannot recall such an equivalence in this one. I do believe I could replace the traditional breakfast with a bunch of brunches.”

The hostess mirrored the sun, not only in countenance but tone of reply.

“Bunch of brunches! When I finally open my eatery, a top five name candidate will be Bunch of Brunches.”

“Bunches of Brunches?”

“Bunches of Brunches! Perfect! Aimee’s Bunches of Brunches! Anyway, I did want to say to your generous compliment, that I never weary of hearing happy reviews of my omelets.”

The host then added, “You know, as well as drinking the orange juice, you can eat the orange slice.”

“In our world the orange slice is more than garnish for platter or glass. We love our oranges, whether sliced or squeezed.”

It was hard to not suppose the sparkle emanating from this orange slice decorating the visitor’s juice glass, was specifically magical to this geographical point (which all parties have until further notice agreed to keep nonspecific). Sure, the visitor - now hopeful future resident - was no alien to orange slices or whole oranges or peeled oranges or orange sections. But oranges, orange juice, orange slices, orange sections, were not prominent in his native land, but more like special treats, or as the hostess said, as garnishes. Mentally embedded indeed were stories from elders of the orange being a rarity, often appearing during winter holiday season. One person might be fortunate to eat one orange.

What if the sparkles really were due to the city’s choice of morning sunshine?

“We now begin with the reason you came. You were curious about our city’s miraculous transformation. Had someone said the answer was always within one simple statute, or as yesteryear called them commandments; had someone suggested this to me, I would’ve scoffed, and my scoffing would’ve been infused with cynicism’s acidity. But when I am wrong... granted when seeing no alternative but to know one is and has been wrong... when results permit no wiggle room; as I have been allowed no wiggle room, because a mere stroll to the market proves unavoidably vivid results. One simple statute and no other, yet this one simple statute carrying the most severe penalty. Let a city; let a state, let a sector, take this route, and let them watch their city, state, whatnot, totally transform into... well, I am not afraid to use the term Paradise.”

While the visitor’s jet lag had mostly dissipated, vestiges yet lingered, and so the visitor (now hopeful future resident) had not the easiest time following the host who spoke. It did not help that the visitor chose this moment to eat the orange slice. Fruit dense in flavor abetted difficulty following the words of one who spoke as the host spoke. Yes the juice produced from the orange slice sparkle could not be content to completely enter the eater’s lips but had to spurt all over the fingers and one eruptive shot did run stickily down the chin.

Could it be coincidence that this action harmonized on the nose with the host’s use of Paradise?

Visitor was then informed that while a languid laze on this patio as the city’s chosen sun beamed blessing was indeed a highlight delight, an initiatory tour to show the marvels of the transformation could not happen if they remained. And so the visitor understood and retreated to his quarters where he showered and dressed for the first outing: sandals, light shirt, shorts.

“For the longest time we focused on the problems. Or what you might call manifested blight. Once the light of revelation came unto receptive minds; once realizing the only banning needed was the banning of asking or accepting payment for guidance or advice pertaining to self-improvement: tranquility blossomed overnight. I do not exaggerate or speak figuratively. Nor can frivolity pay me a coin to say this. Let us stroll this street, and you can see for yourself.”

Later that day, the visitor convinced, yet thirsty, the host stopped their stroll.

“Look! Do you see the pink umbrella? Lemonade fountain.”