This maple tree saved my life.
It started like a typical day in my childhood home in Indiana. I was let out the door to roam the forests, fields, lakes and little creeks that surrounded our house with a warning to stay behind the house and away from the road. So of course, being the well-behaved child I was, I ran out the back door and promptly to our front yard. There, right beside the road, I looked under a large maple tree for “helicopter” seeds.
My search was disturbed by loud screeching and squealing noises. I looked up and saw a car zig-zagging across the road in the distance. The next thing I knew, it was right before me, front fender bent around the tree I was playing under.
I jumped up, ran inside the front door and immediately told my mother about it, only to realize a minute too late she knew I hadn’t listened to her rule. Without a word she went to the phone and called the cops. Once the police arrived, my mother sent them right over to me and I broke down in tears, saying I would promise to listen to my mother and stay in the backyard. The cop was like “that’s fine, just tell me what you saw” I was so relieved when they arrested the other dude and not me. All my mom said was ”He is drunk idiot and you were lucky today.”
This tree and I continued to grow together. It is much loved and am grateful for it. It stirs poetry in my heart and have many more memories beneath it. Hope you guys enjoy the work!
