It was a pleasantly warm day for sitting quietly in his back garden.
The man had not been there long when he first heard it. He became aware of a mumbling sound in his head. It was like a ringing in his ears, but different. It came in short bursts, a fuzzy sound, a bit like hearing a distant voice coming from a neighbour’s radio, barely audible. As he sat there it became clearer. Then, with a sudden surge of clarity, he heard “Hello!” It was then that he became aware of a large stick insect, sitting on the lip of a nearby flowerpot. As he stared at it, it said, “Yes, it’s me. I’m trying to tell you something. All you have to do is listen.”
Badly shaken, he said, “But you are a stick insect…”
“Yes. Yes. I know. I’ve heard it all before. Don’t get hung up in all that stuff! You humans are far too fond of going into denial when we insects feel we really have something to say.”
The man sat dumbfounded… and told off.
The insect said, “Have I got your attention?”
The man nodded.
The insect said, “Good! OK then. You see that scarlet swamp hibiscus, in the corner there?”
He looked at it. He remembered his late wife had planted it.
“Well, yes,” he said.
“It needs watering.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely. These are what you call water-loving plants. If the soil gets too dry they won’t bloom. In fact, they’ll most likely die.”
Looking back at the plant, he heard a great fluttering as the insect took off. He heard a murmured, “Just a suggestion.”
He went inside and Googled it.