5.6 Story of a Tree

I was a sapling standing tall. I grew strong above my brothers. Hard oak, extending branches. Broad through the center, fullness of covering above. Proud the family was of me, destined to stay tall. To be great among the forest.

Then they came. Knocked me down and stripped my glory. Hauling me across my forest, I was rolled away. Split in center, fashioned in two, face to the earth. Crowd gathered, surrounding me. Man nailed down, then lifted up. Bearing all the world, He clung to what was my branches. Father turned away.

Cursed was he, who hung on me.

5.5 Could Have Been

Dear Elizabeth,

                As you know, today was the day. I’d been counting down for weeks now, I’m sure you’re tired of reading about my anticipation. Grandmother and I boarded the train without any trouble. However, something lay on the tracks (so the conductor told us) and the train had to stop for a while. Of course, we were late.

The hall had the looks of having been beautiful; it was practically over by the time we got there.  To think we were so close to experience a luncheon of a life time, all because of those silly trains.  

Love, Letty

5.4 Read On

“’In the beginning, God created the heavens, and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep,’” The voice paused.

“Read on,” the other gentleman urged.

The owner of the voice continued, before pausing again. “’And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.’ What is it, sir?”

The other gentleman didn’t move, “Read on.”

The owner of the voice sighed, but continued, “’Bearing fruit each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.’”

“Ah,” the other gentleman’s voice stopped him, “With God, it’s always good.”

5.3 The Past

“I want that one.”

“No, honey.”

“But Mommy, I like that one.”

“You can find another one you like."

Her daughter’s lip poked out and her shoulders slummed, but she obeyed and began to look for something else.

She did not want her daughter to own anything like it. Was it because it stirred up bitter memories? Memories she reburied every year. Or that the shape of it reminded her of the brokenness she endured? Or the pain that she had caused? Pain that had pierced long.

No. She did not want her daughter to be what she had been.   

5.2 Opening Night

It was the first time she was ever doing it on her own. The curtain drew back and the show began without any trouble. Kate breathed a sigh of relief. Everything was in its place, prop management wasn’t so bad. Then something went wrong. Kate could see the star’s eyes darting around, looking. Excuses were made on stage so the star could leave. There was already a flurry backstage but the star’s temper already escaped her. 

          “Where is it?” she shrieked, as loudly as was appropriate for the wings. 

           Kate pulled off her shoe and handed it to her, “Improvise!” 

5.1 The Fair

The May Fair was always a favorite in his family. This year, their little one was to inherit the joy, too. Ready to go and eager to see the animals, they had to hold tightly to her hand. Pointing out the different booths and listening to the vendors bartering, the familiar whirlwind was comforting. But amidst the swirl of ribbons and flowers, their little girl’s hand slipped away. A horrified chill slipped down them when they realized. Running back over used paths, they looked everywhere. The chill deepening, they began to look new places. They saw her, with the ponies. 

Found

We stood in front of the jewelery counter and looked down at the sparkling rings that shone inside them. My mind flashed back to when my mother and I stood on the stoop of our house as I waited to be picked up.

"Now, if he asks you if you want a ring say no," my mother told me.
I shook my head and hid a smile, "What makes you think he'll propose?"
My mother ignored my question. "You don't want him to spend money on something extravagant like that. You don't need to have a ring."
"But I want to have a ring when I get engaged," I pouted.
Then Samuel's car chugged up into the drive. And sure enough a few days later we were engaged. All the other dates we went on I had to pay for everything so that Samuel could save his money for that ring he wanted to buy me.
And now that day had come. He stood next to me with his hands stuffed in his pockets as he watched me look at the rings. My eyes glided down the rows of diamond rings. I now see why my mother had told me not to let Samuel buy me one, but I wanted a ring to put on that left finger so that everyone would know I found my special someone. I looked at all the rings, some with big stones in them, some with multiple ones, some with so many numbers attached to them that my eyebrows shot high into the sky.

"It couldn't possibly be this hard to find one," I thought. I looked up at Samuel to find him staring down at me. I suddenly felt shy and glanced back down at the counter. Then I noticed one I overlooked before. It had a tiny round diamond set in the center of two thin silver bands. It was tinsey, but it was perfect.

I pointed at it, "I like this one."

His hands came out of his pockets. "You do?" Samuel asked quietly, with a pleased tone in his voice.

I nodded my head up and down quickly, "Uhhuh."

Samuel got the attention of the jeweler and pointed to the ring.

Samuel and I stood there like two shy but excited little kids as the jewler took the ring out and made sure it fit my finger. The jewler boxed the ring and I watched Samuel slowly and carefully lay the money he had lovingly been saving up for me down on the counter. The jewler swept the money up and put it in his cash box without a thought, like it just it was an ordinary purchase.

Samuel picked up the box and led me outside and over underneath a nearby tree. He opened the box and in the shy, boyish way of his that I always loved he slid the ring on my finger, the ittsy-bittsy ring that meant so many things, and kissed my hand.