The big glass dome towers over me as I watch the acid rain hitting it with loud pwaps. The plants around me are looking up too. Well, most of them are. I think that the ones that are driving me insane are too preoccupied with their card game. At least the noise from their Texas Hold-em game has gone down, though I think that’s probably because Oak is winning, and no one likes to mess with him.

I reach down and feel the soft grass, give a sigh of contentment as I take a bite of my protein bar. It’s dry because of the peanuts, and… bitter? Ugg, there’s a ton of salt. I hate salted peanuts-

“WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING? YOU CAN’T DO THAT!”

Damn It I think to myself.

“But it EQUALS 21!”

“Y’all are thinking of Blackjack. It needs to be full flush.”

“We need to play Scum because you would win!”

“Seed brains!”

“Bark face!” It’s the Apples fighting again. They always seem to get the other plants wound up. I usually need to intervene, which means that I need to get up and move.

“Stop! Apples, you know better than that! Birch, keep it down. If you both don’t listen, I will sic Oak on you. Is that understood?” Oak gives a very deep Hrmmmmm to prove my point. That makes the plants perk up.

“Yes, ma'am,” says Birch.

“Yes, you-”start the Apples.

“Apples?” I say with a glare. Oak follows up with another low rumble, and the Apples look at him warily.

“Yes.”

“Good.” Sigh. “Look, guys, I don’t want them ending this program. I love being in here with you all. But good god, you need to watch your step. If they suddenly walk in and you all are arguing, and I can’t get you to calm down, what will they think? Try to be more like Maple.”

“Yeah, be the Canadian!” bursts out the Apples, “Yeah, That’s a laugh. We fight! We are not peace-loving, and we get angry easily and that’s your fault FYI.”

“I know. But I had no choice about how you would turn out. It was all chance. Oi, Maple! Stop sulking because of what the Apples said! You aren’t helping!”

The click of the door opening echoes throughout the dome, and in steps someone who can save me from the plants.

“Hey, Aya!” says Jay with a grin. “I could hear you yelling at the plants. Texas-Hold up again, I presume?”

“Yeah,” I say somewhat tersely. “The Apples like to take a poke at anyone whenever they can.”

Jay nods and scratches the back of his head nervously.

“Uhh, so I’m sort of in a hurry, and it’s about the inspection. Could you come over here for a bit?”