Forest Of Choice

A young Alexander Dupree is walking through the town of Essex looking to get in some trouble. He walks past an elderly woman sitting next to a cart of fruit. He cannot help but notice the delicious looking Granny Apples at the front of the cart. As he looks at the apples he glances over at the elderly woman hosting them. The woman acknowledges Alexander with a smile.

Hello young man, the woman begins. Is there anything you wish to buy? As a matter of fact I would, Alexander responded. I’d love one of your granny apples please. Certainly, that’ll be one dollar, the elderly woman asserted. Alexander reached into his pocket and pulled out what looked like a five dollar bill. Once he handed it to the elderly woman she handed him one granny apple. As they both smiled at each other the woman reached into her change bag to give Alexander his change, but as soon as she put her head down Alexander took off running to his left.

The elderly woman quickly looked up with confusion as to why he left without receiving his change. This question was quickly answered when she just so happened to look at the back of the five dollar bill and saw it was blank, no legitimate symbols of actual currency, just a white facade. She then realized that the boy had tricked her and now she was angry. He with theivery in the palm of his hand, may he become a part of the land. The woman uttered these words to herself with a look of satisfaction on her face as she put her attention back on her business.

Alexander had run nearly two miles away into a forest just outside of town. As he entered the Forest of Essex he started eating the candy apple. He felt a joy of satisfaction and was very impressed with himself, surprised that he had gotten away. As Alexander walked through the forest eating his apple he suddenly started feeling light headed. He was over taken by a feeling of fatigue that made him feel as if he was going to pass out. His eyes became heavy as his body swayed back and forth and in an instant he blacked out.

Alexander suddenly regain consciousness, but felt as if his head was spinning. As his consciousness became clear he looked around and saw he was covered by long grass. I don’t remember the grass being this high up, he said to himself. When Alexander looked up the trees that surrounded him now looked like mountains. What is this? And where am I? Alexander asked himself out loud. You’re in the Forest Of Choice, uttered a perky voice from behind Alexander. When Alexander turned around all he saw was a swaying leaf of grass. How are you talking, you’re just grass? Alexander asked in a confused tone. Take a good look kid, the voice began. You’re grass too, friend.

Alexander examined himself and realized that he too was a piece of grass. OH MY GOSH!!! He screamed out loud. How did I get like this? Alexander cried. Vólla did this to you, the strand of grass next to him answered. Who is Vólla? Alexander asked. She’s the old woman you ripped off, the grass said. She put a hex on you to turn you into a piece of grass in this enchanted forest for a whole day to punish you for stealing from her.

But how do you know that? Alexander asked. Because that’s how all of us got here kid we ripped off the old woman and she put a hex on us, the grass said. what can I do to fix this? I can’t stay like this forever. Alexander cried. I’m afraid there’s nothing you can do kid only thing you can do is wait for your condition to wear off for another 24 hours and then you go free you know you’re not the only one in this situation everybody that you see here stole from Vólla, don’t you hear all the voices? Alexander stopped for a minute and listened to all the voices around him. He realized all the animals and wilderness around him had voices as well and that they all were trapped there for a certain period of time.

I have to get home I can’t stay like this Alexander cried. And you will get home kid, the grass replied. I promise you that but you’re gonna have to do your time here for a day before you can get home there’s a lesson to be learned in all of this you don’t have to be a thief and that’s all Vólla is trying to teach you. I’ve been a thief for years, so I’ve got a few more years here but you get to go home in a day, learn from that. Alexander exhaled. I think I learned my lesson now, Alexander began. Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time.