Here's why:
* John Burke is the young boy who narrates the story. He's a poor, mischievous child living in a rural Southern community during the Depression.
* Mrs. Lottie is the elderly, reclusive woman who grows marigolds in her yard. She's seen as eccentric and slightly frightening by the children in the neighborhood.
While John Burke observes Mrs. Lottie and her marigolds, there's no indication that she ever interacted with him or cared for him in any way.
The story focuses on John's coming-of-age, his experiences with poverty and prejudice, and his awakening to the complexities of life and responsibility. Mrs. Lottie and her marigolds serve as a symbolic element within the narrative, representing themes of beauty, resilience, and the importance of dreams.