What mood does the author create at the beginning of the story? Support your answer with words and phrases from the text.

''the marigolds"

The mood in this story has two parts. One is part of growing up is learning that there are consequences to one's action. The second is all human beings need beauty in their life. The marigolds represent the beauty in the gloomy town, the beauty in Miss Lottie's dull life. Elizabeth comes and destroys them, which leaves Miss Lottie with no beauty in her life, nothing left to live for. Elizabeth is growing up and begins to realize that destroying Miss Lottie's marigolds will have consequences. She feels ashamed and embarrassed that she had done such a horrible thing. Since Miss Lottie has nothing left now, she doesn't get mad but looks very upset.