The Boy and the Tree

The Boy and the Tree1

It was a Friday afternoon under the tree at the edge of the woods. The sunlight was drifting down through the bright leaves illuminating the small boys face with bright speckles that danced with his cinnamon freckles. He had spread the pieces of his lunch kit out on the grass imagining that they were a fancy tea service for the party of two-him and the tree. He chatted politely with the tree, telling the oak all about the strange things that humans did, and about his thoughts. This Friday was like every day. Except that it wasn't. 2

"Boy, what are you doing all alone out here?" his teacher asked as she walked up. 3

"Having tea with my friend." He smiled holding up his sippy cup filled with cherry kool-aid. 4

"Dear dear, I think you're a little old for imaginary friends, why don't you go play with the other boys." She said looking over her shoulder at the boys playing, but ignoring all the rules of, a game of soccer in the field. 5

"Oh, don't worry, Mr. Tree isn't imaginary, you can see him can't you?" He pointed to his leafy tea-part guest. 6

"Don't be silly, pack up your things and go play with the other boys." 7

***8

It was a rainy Friday afternoon, the teen sat beneath the oak tree watching the rain water pool on the field like the tears that men were not allowed to cry. He no longer talked to trees out loud. But sometimes, if he were sad or lonely he thought at them. Like now, reflecting on his life and its wash of disappointments. He closed his eyes and leaned against the comforting bark of the tree. 9

"I wish I had someone to love, to hold." He told the tree. 10

"What would you say if I told you that you did?" a voice said from beside him. He opened his eyes to meet a sky blue gaze. The other boy had beautiful glittering green skin, the colour of oak leaves and a toned body that made him blush deep into his heart. 11

"Who?" He asked only to be silenced with a delicate kiss that tasted of fine tea and whispers. 12

"Oh, only someone who loves you." The tree spirit replied, gently caressing his cheek. "Do you love me?" In a flash, recognition danced across the boy's face, alighting with a spark of passion in his gentle eyes. 13

"Of course I do!" he threw his arms around the other boy and held him tight until he knew for sure that this was no hallucination. "I love you." He whispered as if saying it aloud would break the spell. The boy looked up into the shimmering eyes of the tree spirit and smiled. The next kiss was not nearly as delicate as the last. 14