• Ever since my momma died I was always alone. Never cared for, never wanted, my father abandoned me and left me in an orphanage. He didn't care about me, no one did. No one ever asked me anything, they never wanted to know about me, they didn't want to have anything to do with me.
    It was sad, what did I do to the world that made it hate me so much/ I really wonder, because it makes me so sad knowing that I am the one person that no one on earth cared for.
    One day in the orphanage one of the caretakers hit me across the face in a fit of anger. Not knowing what else to do I ran. I ran through the streets up to the old tree that sat on atop the hill overlooking our village. I fell to my knees at it's trunk, crying my eyes out.
    "Why?! Why did daddy have to leave me here?! Why did momma have to die?! Why...why..am I alone now?! I want mama and daddy!!!!" I felt salty tears staining my cheeks as I yelled at the world.
    I was so lost, so desperate, so lonely and angry. Then unexpectedly I heard an answer in the wind. A kind, gentle voice that spoke to me in the passing breeze.
    Little boy...why do you cry?

    I know I should've been shocked that a tree was speaking to me, but I thought I had been hallucinating but then I had a sudden feeling that I wasn't. It seemed so much like a dream but I knew it was real, for the hand that was on the trunk could feel a pulse coming from the trunk. I could feel warmth coming from the old tree. I wasn't dreaming, it was really speaking. A tree...no. A tree who cared to ask me what was wrong.

    Every day I felt compelled to return to the great tree for it only shared wisdom with me. It told me many things. How to observe life quietly, how to acknowledge the smallest things, and how to understand the world around me.
    I hate to admit it, but I actually began to love the world around me. That doesn't mean that I began loving the humans that treated each other terribly. No...I began loving everything else. Like the dogs, cats, bugs, birds, and plants. I learned to ove everything else for they told many stories according to the great tree. I had begun to love observing life.

    The great tree taught me how to laugh, smile, learn, and love. It taught me so many things that I am truly grateful for. But then came the day when I sat dozing against his trunk and he told me something.
    Little boy, there will come a time when you will meet someone you can share your knowledge with.
    "Yes I know," I answered while running a hand through my black hair.
    Once you do...would you like to join me on a one way trip.?
    "Yes Great Tree...no matter where you go I will follow."

    There came a time when a young girl decided to take up a hobby of following me, or 'accidently' running into me. Each time I ran away though, after all I did not want to talk to a selfish human. But as I sat against Great Tree it dawned on me that she was the one to share my knowledge with, especially if she cared about me enough to talk to me. So I shared all my knowledge with her.
    So then the day came when she followed me up to Great Tree and I sat against his trunk like always and smiled warmly at her.
    "How do you know all these wonderful things?" She asked me.
    "The tree tells me everything I need to know."
    She stared at me puzzled and asked if I could elaborate. I put a hand on Great Tree and could feel him smiling proudly. "Once upon a time a lonely tree and a lonely boy met and all of a sudden they weren't lonely anymore. The tree told the boy many knowledgeable things and the boy listened to it and then began to watch life just like the tree had. He watched, he listened, and he learned about life. One day when the boy was talking to the tree it told him that he would soon find someone to share his knowledge with before it was lost. So when the day came when neither the lonely tree nor the lonely boy were found the knowledge neither lost nor wasted on an insolent person. The person who now knew that continued to tell others until everyone could understand the world around them. "
    She continued to look a bit puzzled, at first I sat there for a moment but then Great Tree spoke to me.
    Go now and return to me at nightfall.
    I did as I was told, so I waved to the girl and ran off towards the village.

    Like great Tree asked, I returned at nightfall and approached him.
    "Great tree what do we do now? I asked him. He took a long time to answer.
    We leave. Little boy...do you still wish to come with me on this one way trip?
    I smiled and put my arms around the old trunk as far as they could go, and embraced him.
    "I was so lonely until I met you Great Tree. I would like to come with you no matter what." Even though the words I spoke to him were true, I still felt a small tear fall onto the ground as we disappeared from the earth. Everything around us was spinning and darkness flooded my vision.

    I was finally awoken by a bright white light, and I stared at the person above me. It was an old man, with a beard, and tan skin, he had a gentle look to him.
    "Little boy are you alright?" He asked me.
    "Great tree?" I asked astounded.
    He gave an old laugh that reassured me it indeed was him. "Yes it is me little boy."
    "Where are we?" I sat up and looked at the endless gold field around us. The sky was white, and everything seemed so bright. The sunflowers seemed to shine as if they were their own stars.
    Great tree reached a hand out to me and I helped me up. "We are in the heavens now little boy, so we can share what we have observed with those who are lost."
    "But if we're in heaven doesn't that mean we are dead?"
    "No no little boy. We are just wandering until our soul is reborn. Come now there is much to do and little time." He held onto my hand tightly and led me into the field of gold.




    What a strange story don't you think? Yet it is my real story that I have to tell. The Great Tree gave me so much, but most of all, even more than wisdom, he gave me the family that was cruelly taken away from me. But I wonder now, will other humans one day find out the real meaning of the world around them? Heh...I'm kidding myself, they are too arrogant, but it is a nice dream.