Old Friends Are the Best

Old Friends Are the Best is a science fiction short story by Jack Sharkey, likely written in the early 1960s. It follows the discovery of the Peter W. Merrill Moonplant, a dormant plant on the Moon that, once brought to Earth, disrupts gravity and causes chaos. The narrative explores themes of survival, memory, and the unintended consequences of human interference with nature, culminating in a dramatic realization about the dangers posed by the plant's influence on Earth. This story highlights the irony of humanity's relationship with nature and the unforeseen threats that can arise from seemingly benign discoveries.