Marigolds by Eugeia Collier published in 1969

This is a very good short story. It depicts the transition of a girl (Lizabeth) from childhood to adulthood. A child is innocence. He or she hurts others without thinking about their feelings. Miss Lottie, who was called a ‘witch’ by her neighboring children, grows marigolds. Growing them was the only retreat from her dusty, harsh, ramshackle life. But, since Lizabeth destroys all the marigolds, she quits growing them. Lizabeth recognizes what she has done to Miss Lottie only after the destruction and observation of Lottie’s sad face. This is her moment of transition.

The story ends with this:

For one does not have to be ignorant and poor to find that his life is as barren as the dusty yards of our town. And I too have planted marigolds.