Thanks to Jonas Hafner for permission to use his beautiful image, "Charlotte"!
Charlotte is such a sweet, sentimental soul. She’s been out there, perched on that tree stump, for too many suns and moons for me to count. I’m just a simple rain sprite. My time is measured in light and dark, dry and wet. When I’m wet, I dance. When I’m dry, I mostly sleep. Sometimes I talk with Charlotte.
She’s always been
more sensitive to the human world. Curious about them. More curious than good
common sense will tell any living creature to get away and keep away from that
kind.
She loved to
watch from the edge of the wood as they built and planted. She didn’t even mind
the heady scent of wood smoke. She said lightning made the trees burn too, and
we didn’t mind that. And sometimes even big fire, when we all had to run.
Especially rain sprite. We shrivel up into wisps of fog if we get too dried
out. It happens to all of us eventually. How long? Didn’t I tell you I don’t
know things like that? Family? The forest is my home. My family.
Big Tree has
always been there, long as any of us can remember. And even though I don’t know
time, I know that’s a mighty long time. Endless lights and darks, cold and
snow, rain, long summer heat. Big Tree was the heart of the forest. Wise
counsel, had Big Tree, if you were patient enough to listen. Again, how long?
You don’t listen at all apparently, so too long for you. I’d say. Big Tree had
a great big heart and was a good friend to every living creature in the forest.
Didn’t pay no mind to size or age or power. Big Tree was as kind to a stinging
wasp or a singing bird or a forest spirit like me.
Charlotte’s that
way too. Not all are. Some think they’re better, bigger, stronger. They don’t
see the light of the forest like some spirits do. Not Charlotte. She’s like Big
Tree.
And now she
mourns. She sits on the stump, that’s not Big Tree any more, the dead piece
stuck in the ground. All that’s left of so many lights and darks, towering
trunk, spreading limbs, waving leaves. Charlotte grieves. MMany have tried to
comfort her, to cheer her. I’ve tried. She rolls her chin across her knee and
gives a ghost of a Charlotte smile.
How long? Too
many lights and darks, I tell you. It was early greening when the humans came
and buzzed and roared and shouted and cut across and pulled down Big Tree with
a crash into the forest. It’s almost snow time, and still she sits. Not many go
to visit any more. I confess, it’s been several lights and darks since I went.
I like to think I am a patient sprite, friend to Big Tree and many spirits of
the forest who are slow and deep of thought and speech. But even I have left
Charlotte alone.
Too long. Let’s
go! Yes, right now. I don’t care if it’s dark, it will be light again soon
enough. You don’t want to come with me? Fine, I will go by myself. You stay
here in your comfortable burrow.
Charlotte?
Charlotte? Dear, dear, I have seen many lights and darks, and many strange
things in the forest, but I didn’t know about this. See here, how her feet and
legs are covered with bark? See how still her body is? She doesn’t even turn to
look at me now. Her face under my hands is rough and cool.
Sad? How so?
Foolish, you are. I daresay you’ll never have patience to listen to Charlotte
now. She will make a fine Big Tree. I will come again after the snows and spend
the lights and darks of the greening with her. What stories we will share! Big
Tree will soon see far above the forest, and now she can always watch the human
world, too.
Let me guess. You
are hungry. Yes, yes, I am not surprised. No, do you see any food here? Only
Charlotte, who is Big Tree To Be. Follow me, foolish one. I will lead you to
the finest food and shelter you can imagine. Yes, a feast in a palace. How
long? Do not trouble yourself with such things. Follow me, and you will see…
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Dogs
in house
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Houdini
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Time
writing:
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30 minutes
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September
word count:
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9.773
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