The Old Tree

For years and years, I've been planted in this sprawling yard, watching couple after couple move in and out of this wonderful, towering house. I've learned much, forgotten little. One thing I thought I would never know, however, is the joy of little children swinging from my branches, sitting in my shade, and venturing to my tallest leaves. I had given up all hope of ever seeing a child smile up at my tall bark and frown at my staying here when they must leave. Until one day, this hope was reignited by the sound of little laughter, joined in by an echoing, booming laugh. A new family was moving into this grand estate! I watched quietly as a young couple herded three children into the towering doors of The White House and kept waiting until they would come out to play. The next day my hopes came true and I saw all three shining faces skip out into the glistening sunlight, followed happily by the beautiful people who brought them to me. However, they ran over to the tall pines and white birches instead of coming to venture my leafy limbs. Weeks passed, and only once was I used as shade for a short while to a plump gardens keeper. Wind came and lifted my branches, rain came and showered over them. I wished it would rain forever so I would never have to see those children choose other trees, though I still eagerly waited to see the happy faces emerge from the towering mansion and look over to discover my shady escape. One day, the God above answered my many prayers. I saw the children and father come out bearing wood, nails, and tools galore. They each gazed around the spacious yard until the youngest boys eyes landed on my tall branches. He ran over to his father and said something to him and pointed over to my leaves. The father nodded and beckoned to the other children to come this way. They built a miniature house in my branches, and although the pain when they struck a nail into one of my limbs was sharp, I knew it would all do for good. The built and built for hours, and I watched as the sun started sinking lower and lower in the sky. Soon enough, the man said to the children that they will have to finish this project the next day, but they must go eat now. I sighed happily as I watched the little figures walk inside. The next day, the sweet mother accompanied the children and helped decorate the house until it was a very quaint little establishment. There was a quite proper stairway up to the half door which opened to a box divided in two rooms. One room had a little couch and some comfy seating that could be used as a bed if need be, while the other room was filled with toys and wonders to the young’s eye. I watched with admiration as the children played with their mother and father and listened with absolute delight when I heard the girl ask her mother if she could invite her little chum over to play in the tree house the next day, and her mother said she would arrange it. I was filled with so much happiness when the next to children asked to have their friends over for a treehouse party. I couldn’t wait to have bunches of little joys climb my arms and recline in my house. The children went to their house to eat and finish their studies and I stood on my roots, bursting at the bark with joy. The crisp, starry night was followed by the most beautiful day one could imagine. Before I could rustle my leaves, a new group of smiling, curious faces climbed my new staircase and stepped into the colorful playroom suspended in the air by my strong branches. The eldest brought her company into the room with comfy chairs and the young four played with toys and made dresses for dolls with my leaves. I was simply elated when the boys climbed up to my tall heights and played lookout. When the girls called them down to play a guessing game I listened in and played it silently. I won a lot, but simply because I have great hearing and heard the whispers from lip to ear and knew the phrase by the time it reached the last player's ear. I watched as some children dropped leaves onto other’s heads from above in my tall escape. Then, there was a hushed conversation about what to get for the eldest child’s birthday as she was in the restroom, and whispers about crushes while in the private of the comfy room. I waited to all of the children to go cartwheeling in the great lawn to shake out my brunches. This was simply marvelous. In all my years on this property, I had never been this happy, not even when that yappy dog moved away, not when a certain president had been over voted. No words could explain my feeling every time that children came for an afternoon party in the treehouse. Then, one day when  the children came to sing in my branches, a guest tumbled off a high hang and landed on the grassy surface below with a thud. All of the other children gasped and peered over the edge of the treehouse at th limp body laying below. The eldest girl rushed down and took charge while her friend ran inside to alert the parents. The youngest guest of them all started crying and was comforted by the rest. The parents ran out and dialed nine - one - one. I sat here, thinking that I could have put a branch out to save the boy, but I hadn’t been paying attention… and I fell into a deep despair. I would feel I had failed my smiling children if the little boy didn’t survive the fall. I heard shouts and peered down to the ruckus, to see the small boy sitting up. His parents had by now arrived and ran to embrace him as soon as they saw he was alive. He was brought to the hospital, and didn’t return for a long while, but after a season I saw his matured face ascend the ladder once more. Now, there would be many more endless afternoons in the treehouse, forever and ever.