Write a story that weaves together multiple lives through their connection to a particular tree.

Posted in Spring on Oct 26, 2022

Submissions are closed

Sorry, we are not accepting submissions for this prompt as it is not part of an active contest. Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy Prompts account.

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 246 stories

“My ojīchan tree” by Stories Through The Heart

Submitted to Contest #90

People around me give me a name, and it's ojīchan. It means 'grandfather'. And, I am the tree spirit of that 'oak tree'. That big, old and strong tree is me. And the boy who is coming while calling my name is one of my love child, 'Hiro'. He had a pretty cute face, big eyes, black hair and top of that innocent smile, oh! It melts my heart. It's like our daily routine after Hiro, come back from his school, he come there to play with his friends. But first he hug me while calling me ojīchan. It's such a heart warming experience. Well, yes!...

0 comments 0

Read story

“The token” by Lucyna Polok

Submitted to Contest #90

Rosha ran. Her muscles aching, her lungs burning, her fawn’s horns snaring in the lower branches above her head, she ran, weaving her way in between the trees. Her long hair got snagged on a branch when she cast a quick glance over her shoulder and she felt a painful tug but ignored it, jerking her head and powering on. Leaving a strand of light pink hair tangled on that branch, blowing in the wind. Carrying her scent. The howls drew closer. Not dogs’, no. Dogs were from the human world, good-hearted and obedient, only becoming vile if...

0 comments 0

Read story

“The Oak’s Interaction” by Helen L

Submitted to Contest #90

Warning: this story involves domestic violence. The Oak’s Interaction with StephI really, really, have to go. My sweatpants are already damp from the little bit of pee that I was unable to control leaving my bladder, and I just hope that the seat of the camry isn’t going to smell like piss for the next month. Daryl, my husband of almost three years, would have a fit if he found out. I can’t believe he even let me go to visit my mom without him; I know how mad he gets when I go out on my own. And now I’m going to upset him more with my c...

2 comments 2

Read story

“The Old Oak” by Rachel Schneider

Submitted to Contest #90

The Old Oak The majestic oak tree had evidently dominated the landscape since the dawn of time. Tall and wide, its bare limbs reached defiantly into the chilly November sky, its stalwart frame a stark contrast to the gaunt highwayman dangling by the neck from a stout upper bough. The magistrate had had the man whipped and stripped before the hanging, leaving him only his undershirt. "For the sake of modesty", the magistrate had hissed scornfully, and it had surprised the highwayman as there were hardly any women present. The shift was a ...

0 comments 0

Read story

“The Garden” by Damisola Sulaiman

Submitted to Contest #90

Sitting in the heart of the most affluent area in the bustling city of Lagos is a stunning urban green space which in the month of December becomes the heart of special events for three very different people. The Garden - when you walk in you are greeted with a neon metal archway which carves out the path to a clearing covered in grass, the trees in the clearing are so tall with countless fairy lights draped all over them, the seats are the most vibrant colours with wooden structures built to enclose them perfectly and space for blankets for...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Lemons, Legends, and Lessons” by Lucy Gray

Submitted to Contest #90

“This is the legendary tree?! You’ve got to be kidding me!” The Keeper glared. “Yes. Do not disrespect it.” “It’s a lemon tree with a hole in it…” “A legendary lemon tree that holds the secret of life within,” the Keeper corrected. The young man looked the tree over once more. He pointed to a branch and the words carved into it. “It’s name is Faloola.” “And yours is Gary. Now I suggest you treat Faloola kindly.” With that, the Keeper strode over to a rock and plopped herself down. Gary grumbled. He couldn’t believe he had ...

0 comments 0

Read story

“The Elbow Tree” by Ella Salem

Submitted to Contest #90

Betsy I love my husband, more than I could probably ever put into words. I think that’s why it was so hard for me to tell him the news. When I told him, I could see the devastation in his eyes as his worst fears were confirmed. But his eyes were the only part of his face that showed me how he was feeling. The rest of his face remained stoic and brave. “I’m here for you Bets, whatever you need” was all he said. I hugged him tightly. In this moment I could tell he needed it more than me. Breast cancer was what I had always feared. It had taken...

4 comments 4

Read story

“Out Of My Tree!” by Devi VK

Submitted to Contest #90

February ’76“What does she even teach them?” Jay Ranjan snarled, walking languidly with his groupies up the unpaved road that led to the spot, making her shape out from a distance. “Who knows,” Santosh replied, kicking an empty aluminum can, raising tiny swirls of dust.“Could’ve stayed home, sewed, knitted, cooked - done anything but decides to teach instead. Strange!” Raju quipped, eager to join the conversation. “She can do whatever she wants,” Jay said, “as long as she stays away from...my tree,” He wanted to say ‘my property’, ...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Mary the Tree” by Adriana Petrossian

Submitted to Contest #90

Hannah-I sighed, and looked up at Mary,"Today sucked."Someone gave me a weird look as they walked past and I couldn't help but practically yell-"Yes I'm talking to a tree that I gave a name, do you have a problem with that?!"Ok I know what you're thinking, but I'm not crazy, okay? Mary is the only person, well tree, that will listen to what I have to say. So I continued to tell Mary about how I tripped in front of the girl I like and landed right on my face. Her name is Taylor, and she is perfect. Although she has never looked my way before,...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Shady's Shadow” by Elliot Turman

Submitted to Contest #90

Mrs. Sherwood assigned our class to write a romantic poem regarding anything we see on campus. As she let class out for us to look around, pondering what we’d want to write about - I already had my subject in mind. I fumbled down the crowded university hallways, trying to maneuver my slight stature through the flocks of students fervently racing to their classes, tutor sessions, meetings, or whatever occurrence had them in such a hurry. Inhaling one giant breath, I pushed open the east end doorway, closing my eyes while doing so. I stoo...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Inheritance ” by Jake DeBolt

Submitted to Contest #90

Carl limped through his yard, his arm shaking as he shaded his eyes against the sun. “Dad?” Carl leaned against his cane, twisting back just far enough to catch his daughter standing in the doorway. “I told you to let someone else do that!” Carl didn’t bother responding, letting out a grunt as he continued to limp down the slope of the yard. “Dad!” She yelled after him, her eyes flickering back and forth between her father and the infant in her arms. Carl didn’t listen, humming softly as he weighed the seeds in his hand. Th...

1 comment 1

Read story

“A Mighty Oak” by Tricia Shulist

Submitted to Contest #90

I’ve been standing in this exact same spot for over four hundred years. I am a mighty oak. I provide shade in the summer, food for animals in the autumn, oxygen for people and animals everywhere. I have stood sentinel before there were roads, before there were cities and towns, before there were buildings, before there was anything except the forest. I was once part of a vast, never-ending woodland. As far as the eye could see, there were trees. Not just oaks, but ash, birch, hickory and walnut trees. Everg...

11 comments 11

Read story

“The Grand Oak” by Sena Aydın

Submitted to Contest #90

I’ve never seen a hotter summer than that one in 15 years. My clothes were clinging on with the sweat running down my face, back, and every single spot of my body that you can possibly think of. My clothes, all black, were not helping. The Grand Oak was the only source of shadow; however, no one wanted to stay under it because of the loop hanging down on one of its thick branches. “Do you have any last wishes?” the Priest asked. The man sitting on the ground with his hands tied in the back said nothing. “You killed two men. You stole. Yo...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Tree Line” by Steve Cripwell

Submitted to Contest #90

I stood under its branches as they reached heavenward, the thick canopy of leaves soaking up the sun. I looked at my son standing opposite me, the limited light showing his face, dappled like leopard skin. This was our birthday ritual, to visit the oak tree as a family. My grandfather had brought my father here every birthday morning for the whole of his life, as had his father. Then up until his accident, my father brought me too. Here I was, continuing the tradition with my son. Why the tree was held in such high esteem by my ancesto...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Matthew, The Tree” by Bonnie Seach

Submitted to Contest #90

Bonnie Seach Word count 1928 The aircraft spluttered, lost altitude and plunged into a tree. The pilot died instantly. His wife was able to carry their young child to a safe crevice in the rock laden hillside. She tenderly comforted him as best she could. She was injured and had lost blood. Water! She had to find water. Leaving the boy sleeping in a tiny cave she salvaged two water bottles from the wreck and hobbled toward mist in the distance. Was that the sound of water nearby, flowing rapidly? She pushed her way through the...

0 comments 0

Read story

Load more stories

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story in which an endangered species (of plant or animal) plays a central role.

Middle School – 94 stories

Set your story in a world living with the consequences of a climate apocalypse.

Science Fiction – 134 stories

Write about a community that worships Mother Nature.

Summer – 82 stories

Start your story with someone sitting on a crowded train and end it with them looking out over beautiful natural scenery.

Spring – 258 stories

Contest #90

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Down to Earth

$50

Prize money

814

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Apr 23, 2021 EST

Won by Nina Chyll 🏆

Title: The Tree Surgeon's Dictionary

View details

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Menu

CONNECT

BLOG

APPS

TOOLS

ABOUT

Write a story that weaves together multiple lives through their connection to a particular tree.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 246 stories

“My ojīchan tree” by Stories Through The Heart

“The token” by Lucyna Polok

“The Oak’s Interaction” by Helen L

“The Old Oak” by Rachel Schneider

“The Garden” by Damisola Sulaiman

“Lemons, Legends, and Lessons” by Lucy Gray

“The Elbow Tree” by Ella Salem

“Out Of My Tree!” by Devi VK

“Mary the Tree” by Adriana Petrossian

“Shady's Shadow” by Elliot Turman

“Inheritance ” by Jake DeBolt

“A Mighty Oak” by Tricia Shulist

“The Grand Oak” by Sena Aydın

“Tree Line” by Steve Cripwell

“Matthew, The Tree” by Bonnie Seach

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story in which an endangered species (of plant or animal) plays a central role.

Set your story in a world living with the consequences of a climate apocalypse.

Write about a community that worships Mother Nature.

Start your story with someone sitting on a crowded train and end it with them looking out over beautiful natural scenery.

Contest #90

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

814

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: