Hello, Tree

Larst week, Daddy took me to the Tree again. I like it there. It's quiet and soft.

What I like about the Tree is the pictures. When you get near you start seeing good stuff. In your mind. Beautiful places with all lovely things and people you miss. Like mum.

At first it's fuzzy and small, but it gets bigger the closer you get. And when I gone a few times, it wasn't fuzzy hardly at all.

Daddy hasn't took me to the tree for days. I ask, Can we go, and he says Maybe, or Tomorrow, or I'm busy Saffron. That means No. Why do grownups have to be so boring?

I say PLEEEEEEASE in the politest way I can. He just frowns.

"Look," he says, "I don't think it's safe."

I want to say, That's stupid, but it's cheeky.

"Have you seen Melissa at school?" he says, and I say "no".

"When did you see her last?"

"Dunno."

He's quiet for a bit. Then he sighs and pats my arm.

"I'll think about it."

He's wrong. The tree is safe and nice.

I wait for him to fall asleep in front of the telly again, and I sneak. You know where I'm sneaking. That's right. I get my shoes on, super quiet, and I walk to the tree.

I start seeing the pictures already, like movies in my head. Mum's smiling by a long table in the sunshine.

I can see me! I'm pointing to a cake. Mum's nodding.

The pictures bigger. It looks real. I feel grass under my feet. I can smell that nice food on the table.

I look around and I can't see me anymore but there's my cake! Fudge cake. My favourite. So close I could touch it! I can touch it!! I'm picking it up. Going to have a big sticky bite. Yum!

I'm opening my mouth for the next bite, when the roots burst through the sunny grassy picture and wrap around me. Like that octopus we saw on TV. But a MEAN octopus, and all woody and rough. The ground opens.... dirt in my face... up my nose... Daddy will be mad. It's squeezing. I can't-

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Word count: (excluding author's note): 366

Submitted on: 18th May at 23.48

*Quick Author's Note*

First, and most importantly: thank you so much for reading my story! The ha'penny that Vocal will toss in my hat for your eyeballs landing on this humble piece will be well-spent. I'll buy a few more classic cars. (I just watched Gone in 60 Seconds this weekend, and I'm convinced Cage loved that car in a way that should not be legal.)

If you enjoyed this one, the very best compliment you can give me is to share it, or read another!

A Year of Stories: I'm writing a story every day this year. This one continues my 141 day streak since 1st January!

Please do consider lending your support to the other creators who are also on this madcap "a story every day" adventure. They are putting out excellent content every day!

Rachel Deeming

Gerard DiLeo

Leave a comment: Please do leave me a comment. It makes it easier to reciprocate the read.

The story behind the story: This sort of follows on from yesterday's story, which is here:

Thank you

Thank you again, most especially if you are one of the wonderful people who has been staunchly reading these daily scribbles since the start of the year. I see you, and appreciate you 😁

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