Protest of the Root People

The root people were gearing up for war. They had their swords and axes out. They were heading toward the store, Where a rude man had been a lout. We are taking all our kin home, they said. You will have no more turnips or produce. I stood back and watched the mandrakes As they let their tempers loose. The shopkeeper was sorry, he appealed to the potato. I am sorry, she said, but you’ll have to settle for tomato. The root people stay angry for days, and sometimes weeks. So this means no rutabagas or beets or maybe leeks.