Once upon a time, there were three monks who decided to leave the monastery and open a flower shop where they could sell flowers and exotic plants. They moved into a very small town and were doing quite the good business until one day, they got in an exotic man-eating plant. The monks were quite excited about the new arrival and told all of the townspeople to come see it! Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before the plant ate one of the townsfolk.
Now, this was a small town, remember, and it was now getting smaller all the time so, the mayor called a meeting at the small old town hall. Once the few residents has gathered, he asked them what they thought they should do about the monks and their man-eating plant. The town’s only police officer stood up and declared “I’m the law in these parts, I’ll run them out!” This was met with approval by one and all.
So, the police officer goes to the flower shop and, tells the monks “get out of town and take your man-eating plant with you!’ The monks are rather shocked by this and ask the officer if he has even seen the offending plant in order to get the evidence he needed to run them off. He of course hadn’t so, he goes in to see the plant, and wouldn’t you know it, he gets to close and it eats him!
Now, this was a small town, remember, and it was now getting smaller all the time. They did not even have a police officer now! So, the mayor called a meeting at the small old town hall. Once the few remaining residents has gathered, he asked them what they thought they should do about the monks and their man-eating plant. The town’s only fire fighter stood up and declared “I’ll chop down that plant with my trusty ax!” This was met with approval by one and all.
And so, the fireman goes to the shop to run the monks out of town, he is met by the bewildered monks at the door of the shop. “get out of my way monks!” he cries, “I’m here to take care of that pesky plant of yours!”. Frightened by this burly man wielding an ax, the monks quickly retreat. The fireman charges into the room, trips over a loose board and falls right into the mouth of the man eating plant!
Now, this was a small town, remember, and it was now getting smaller all the time. They did not even have a police officer or a fire fighter now! So, the mayor called a meeting at the small old town hall. Once the few remaining residents has gathered, he asked them what they thought they should do about the monks and their man-eating plant. A little elderly woman near the back stands up and meekly says, “My nephew Hugh can stop them!” There is great commotion in response to this but, the people finally agree that this is as good of a plan as any, “not like we have anyone else, right?”
And so, Hugh, goes down to the flower shop and demands that the monks leave town immediately and that they take their man-eating plant with them. And wouldn’t you know it, those monks took off faster than you could blink!
The moral of this story, Hugh, and only Hugh can prevent Florist Friars.