Forelle

Water ran in squiggly lines, through dirty snow, finding the path of least resistance as it flowed towards the lowest point. Mornings were met with kids tempting their fate on how deep the water might be under the layer of ice on puddles. Afternoons the sun beat down doing her best to help earth remove the blanket of snow, leaving mud and puddles to delight children and annoy parents with extra loads of laundry.

Rodrigo and Teri had kept the winter blues away with the magic in the old barn. They had no intention of abandoning the adventures that awaited them there for the fun of spring time messes. They had big plans for the upcoming weekend, so when school let out Friday they gleefully fled the building, loving the warmth of the sun on their faces.

Rodrigo had placed some sheets of wood down on the ground to keep them from getting stuck on the muddy path to the barn. Once inside Rodrigo asked, “Are you ready to go flying?”

“You bet I am! This time when we get to the Fairies home land I’m going to ask if we can really fly!”

“That would be awesome,” exclaimed Rodrigo as he began weaving a rope in and out of Teri’s wheelchair.

“Do you think they give us magical wings or just sprinkle some fairy dust on us,” Teri wondered aloud.

“I’m not sure, but I’ll be done soon and we will go find out!”

Rodrigo finished getting the ropes secured while Teri babbled away about how it would feel to fly through the air.

Finally Rodrigo announced, “Ok, all set to go, let’s get up to the hay loft and see what is happening with our fairy friends!”

Rodrigo climbed the old wooden ladder to the loft, unhooked the other end of the rope. and started pulling Teri up.

“Weee,” she squealed as she started to raise and slowly spin. She was facing away from the loft when she stopped moving up and as she slowly turned to the loft again a splash of daylight from a crack in the roof crossed her face; the loft magically turned from old broken down hay bales to a glorious meadow with rolling hills of trees and grasses beyond. Teri could smell sweet flowers and hear a babbling stream nearby. She smiled huge when she noticed the old tree stump where she, Rodrigo, and many fairies had gathered the first time they came to this magical land. They had a party for Rodrigo’s birthday, and the fairies began a war with showers of sprinkles while they debated the best type to put on his cake.

Teri laughed out loud thinking of that day. “It is so nice to be back here!”

Rodrigo agreed as he pulled her over to land softly on the green grass then worked quickly to release the ropes and set her free.

“Huh,” Teri mused, “where is our welcome party? Where are any of the fairies for that matter? Last time they were flying all over and excited to greet us?”

“I know, it’s really weird,” said Rodrigo.

“Oh, I hope everything is ok,” worried Teri.

Starting off, Rodrigo declared, “Let’s go find out.”

Together they wandered off both getting more worried and stressed the further they went and still there was no sign of life.

Finally, Teri broke the silence they had settled into, “I don’t like this at all Rodrigo. I’m starting to worry something awful happened here.”

“I know,'' said Rodrigo, “my stomach is turning I am so worried.”

They continued on tossing out ideas for why they had not seen anyone, both trying to keep them positive, a great party, a grand festival, or a joyous journey.

As they chatted away trying to keep the gloom from overpowering them Teri heard a sound that brought some hope to her saddened heart.

“Did you hear that,” she questioned.

“What,” asked Rodrigo.

“I’m not sure, but I thought I heard wings”

They looked around and sure enough in the distance weaving around trees there was a fairy, but she was moving quickly away from them.

Rodrigo and Teri started going as fast as they could and yelling, “hello, excuse me, hello!”

They were getting tired and seeing the distance start to grow between them and the fairy. Rodrigo stopped, took a deep breath and yelled as loud as he could, “Please wait!”

Teri noticed the fairy hesitate for a moment, so she started yelling as well. The fairy stopped then and turned around. Both Rodrigo and Teri raised their arms high, yelling and waving. The fairy started towards them and they both shouted praises of thanks.

“It’s Crystal,” exclaimed Teri as they and the fairy closed the gap between them.

Crystal flew up and gave them both a hug saying, “I am so glad you guys came today, it will bring some much needed cheer to all.”

Teri exhaled, “Gracious, something is wrong then. We have been so worried, but kept hoping everyone was gone for a good reason. What has happened?”

Crystal heaved a great sigh, “Let’s keep going to them and I’ll tell you on the way. They are waiting on the oils I’ve been collecting.”

“Yes, let’s keep going, tell us everything please,” Teri said as they all started forward.

“It’s Forelle, she is dying,” Crystal cried out.

Both Rodrigo and Teri gasped then mumbled apologies unsure what else to do. They had not met Forelle last time they came, but they could tell it was upsetting to Crystal and everyone else.

“It’s so terribly difficult,” Crystal continued, “even though we all knew it was coming. It’s still so hard to see her go, she will be dearly missed.”

“What happened to her," asked Rodrigo sadly.

“She is very old, as she puts it, ‘it’s time to return to the earth that gave me life, so I can give back the nourishment she has given me all these years.’”

“Oh, that is very sad, I am so sorry Crystal. How long does she have to live,” questioned Teri.

“It won't be much longer now, when the last leaf falls she will be gone. We have known it was coming ever since she stopped producing pears several years ago. She has lived far longer than others, holding out I think for Bosc’s sake. His home is nestled within her limbs and they are very close to one another.”

Teri and Rodrigo looked at each other both expressing surprise. Rodrigo was the first to speak, asking, “ So, Forelle is a tree?”

Crystal replied without skipping a beat, “Yes, she is a pear tree and we all so loved the fruit she gave us, but more so the joy she spread to all.”

Teri piped up, “You can talk to trees then?”

Smiling a bit, Crystal laughed, “Of course I can talk to trees, anyone can talk to trees they are amazing listeners.” Then ducking her head a little she divulged, “It’s hearing the trees speak to you that is difficult. I am still working on that gift, it is a struggle for me. Bosc is amazing at hearing them, he has had the gift since birth I heard. I was told he would often come to Forelle for help and advice on hard days. She was always there for him and obviously she grew fond of him to offer her limbs for his home.”

“Wow,” Teri exclaimed, “I guess that advice to talk to your plants is true, though I have never thought of listening to hear what they would say to me.”

They all stopped talking for a moment as they heard a low humming not too far away.

“Almost there now,” whispered Crystal, “she enjoys hearing music, so we have often sat around singing or humming to her.”

They came around a bend in the road and saw thousands of fairies and animals gathered round a large tree that was brown and bare in stark contrast to the many shades of green that surrounded it. A single leaf hung on the tallest branch swaying gently in the light breeze.

Teri and Rodrigo moved into the group and hummed along a sweet and melancholy melody. Many around them had tears in their eyes, and they clung to friends and family.

Crystal flew on up to Forelle and a strong looking man with a mix between tan and yellow hair and stunning green eyes filled with tears. He stood caressing Forelle, his head touching her trunk. When Crystal reached him she handed the pouch she wore to him and gave him a quick hug. She put her hand on the Forelle’s trunk and leaned her head against her. Teri could see she was speaking, but she could not hear the words that came forth.

As she moved away the fairies and animals one by one moved up, each taking a turn to touch Forelle and speak some word of goodbye.

Teri and Rodrigo did not know if they should go forward or not, but they moved along with the crowd and soon found they were next to Forelle. Both felt slightly awkward not having known her, but at the same time drawn to her. They reached out and both took a moment to tell her thanks for the years of joy she had brought to all around her and expressed the disappointment they felt at not having the opportunity to know her.

As they moved away Teri thought she heard the faintest whisper of, “Thank you” come from Forelle.

Tears spilled down Teri’s and Rodrigo’s faces as they watched the last leaf break it’s hold on the branch and begin a slow glide towards the earth below.

Bosc sobbed and flew up to meet the leaf on its journey down. Once it landed he gently picked it up holding it to his heart. After a moment he croaked out, “You all know what her wishes were, we are to begin the process of returning her to the earth she loved so much. She has asked that a branch be taken to each of her children and grandchildren so that she might help nourish the ground that gives them life. The rest of her is to remain here and help replenish the earth that has helped her live a strong full life beyond what is normal. Remember what she told us as we sat with her these last few days, life is a gift and we are to move forward making the most of each moment we have. Her spirit lives on in each of us as we remember the times we have shared with her, finding shade in her shadow, a seat in her branches, food in her fruit, and most importantly joy and strength in her wisdom. Now come forward, and each take a small portion of the oils that will help her return to the earth she loves and rub it all over her. Those who have been asked will take a branch to each child and grandchild burying it near them.”

The funeral procession moved forward now and each took a small amount of oil, fairies flying upward to cover each limb and branch while Rodrigo and Teri stayed at the trunk with the others who could not fly. The moment Teri touched the tree again to help rub the oils in she was surprised to find the touch much different from the first time. She did not expect to feel that Forelle’s soul had departed, yet she did. The tree was there, but the life was gone now. Tears filled her eyes once more and she cried with Rodrigo and others for a long time.

Finally, she and Rodrigo said their goodbyes and left for home.

As she headed home she looked around at the signs of life working its way out of the snow and mud. She said a thank you to them all and vowed to try and hear them speak to her.

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Click on this story to read about the start of Teri and Rodrigo’s adventures.