Rhododendron's Roots

When Rhoda was a little girl, drawing, coloring and writing and talking at the kitchen table, she always told her mom that she couldn't wait to grow up and do whatever she wanted. Now Rhoda would do anything to have just one of those days spent at her Mom's kitchen table, dreaming about life's seemingly endless possibilities. She so loved all those possibilities, and she loved her mom too, even if she did name her Rhododendron. Rhoda used to complain to her mom that the kids at school made fun of her real name when the teacher took attendance, but her mom told her that it was special and that having such a special name would make her stronger. Rhoda believes that it really did make her stronger.

Rhoda's on a bench outside one of the many empty shops in Southport Shopping Center on 17th Street in Fort Lauderdale. It's kinda desolate there, but she's not scared.