Rochelle at Friday Fictioneers
is hosting another photo prompt.
Here’s the photo followed by
my 100-word response.
Leyland spoke softly as he comforted his weeping wife, Willow.
“Hush, darling. Another season has come and gone and I’m still here to protect you and the children. I realize I had a couple of close calls but so far, so good. I never thought I’d say this but I’m thankful for my disfigurement; it’s kept me from being selected and close to you.”
Willow sighed. “I feel terribly guilty. There’s no chance I will ever be chosen and I fear for our friends and family.”
“I know, darling. I’ll check on Douglas today. Pray the family is all safe.”
NAR©2024
100 Words
Author’s Note: Leyland and Douglas are very popular evergreens sold as Christmas trees. One of the saddest things is seeing all the dead and forgotten Christmas trees discarded by the curb after the season. Next time you go looking for a Christmas tree, consider buying one with its root ball intact instead of one that’s been chopped down; you can replant it in your yard or place it in a pot. Your tree gave you so much joy during the holidays; why not give it a chance to keep living? And BTW, artificial doesn’t need to have a negative connotation!
This is the one and only Frank Sinatra with “Willow Weep For Me”
This portfolio (including text, graphics and videos) is copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR © 2017-present.
The Elephant's Trunk 
That’s a lovely thought.
They should sell such trees that can be planted.
So many trees are chopped each year.
Buyer awareness can help.
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Nancy, today you are The Lorax, you “speak for the trees” ❤ I've had my fair share of live and artificial trees over the years. Not only does a real tree murder our external lungs but it's a pain in the azz every step of the way to cut, haul, put in a stand, water, decorate, undecorate, take down, and haul to the road, with their dying needles raining every step of the way. The artificial ones are fine but can be a hassle to assemble then disassemble and pack in their too-small boxes. These days I have no tree at all and it suits me just fine.
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Lisa, I can fully understand how you feel! We’ve done every form of tree available and now have a pop-up, pre-lit and fully decorated tree in a box from Amazon. Never heard of such a thing? I hadn’t either! If you’re interested, check this out on Amazon: “Prextex Premium 6 ft Pre-Decorated Christmas Pre-lit Pop Up Tree”. It’s a game changer! Sincerely, The Lorax
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Omigosh, consider me flabbergasted. What will they think of next. That looks so easy and wonderful.
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Honest to goodness, it was exactly as they described. The cover image for a story I wrote in December is a photo of my actual tree.
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Oh the life of trees at Christmas time… how tragic.
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It’s sad when the holidays are over and
everything gets put away till next time.
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A fine use of the prompt, I enjoyed it
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Thank you kindly, Michael.
I appreciate your comments.
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WHAT??? Santa only comes if you sacrifice a tree in his honor. That’s where he gets his life force. That and cookies. My mom has a potted tree she’s been hauling in and out of the house for years. I like that much better than artificial trees. They seem tacky. If you get one of those, a mall Santa comes to your house instead of the real one. Nobody wants that. Santa’s supposed to smell like magic, cookies, and reindeer farts, not bourbon, cigarettes, and self-loathing.
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Good mom; I hope you help her haul that potted tree around year after year!
Being Santa can’t be easy; it’s a thankless job.
https://theelephantstrunk.org/2023/12/07/daddy-goes-to-the-mall/
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A friend suggested I buy a tree with a root ball, when I told
her I didn’t want to see trees curbside after x’mas. My artificial
tree wasn’t a fav for her. Lovely story …
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Thank you, Isadora!
Did you ever get that tree?
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Actually, that particular Christmas she purchased a real tree with the roots for me as a gift. It grew to be a nice size. Then, a hurricane came through and blew it away. In 2022, Hurricane Ian took the rest of my trees, including a 30 year old oak, and split it in half. I’ve been replacing them slowly. It’s been quite a task and hugely expensive. But, I missed my birds that used to nest in them. I think the expense is worth it.
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I figured out we were dealing with trees, although I am not familiar with the Leyland. I’ll have to look it up.
And yes, it does seem so sad to see all the trees left in the lots, or tossed out on the curb for collection after the holidays.
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I’m not familiar with Leyland either but after Googling ‘evergreen tree names’ that one popped up. I was pretty sure it was a male name so I went with it.
I’m glad you appreciated the message of my story. 🌲
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I did look it up. The Leyland is a cedar variety, very pretty and smells wonderful 🙂
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How wonderful! 🌲
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I agree it seems such a waste to cut down so many trees for Christmas. My daughter decided to visit from Australia this year. Without asking she ordered a ‘real’ tree and it arrived as a surprise. I decorated it as usual, at least she was impressed. I do have an large artificial tree and only on close inspection can you see the difference. Okay, it does not have that pine smell.
A lovely thought reaching story.
Sorry I just found you contribution today,].
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The way you say “without asking” speaks volumes. Don’t we just love such generous surprises from our grown kids? 😳
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and no need to apologize;
I wrote my story three days ago and immediately forgot to link up. Just remembered yesterday! 😂
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Dear Nancy,
What a unique story. It is sad that trees are cut down for such a short time and then cast off. Well done and evocative.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you!
It always bothers me to see the discarded trees at the curb waiting for pickup. A sad ending for such a bringer of joy.
Peace, my dear Rochelle 🕊️
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Thanks for the explanation. All became clear
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My pleasure, Neil.
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Just took our Christmas tree down three flights of stairs. So many pine needles.
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You’re gonna need a bigger broom!
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Timely story, perfect for when all those trees appear on the curb.
I love how you gave the trees a voice (and also their names).
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Thanks for your very nice comments, Dawn.
I once saw a video where a man placed a thin round section of a tree trunk onto his record player, dropped the arm with the needle into the grooves and recorded the sounds that came through his speakers. It was called “The Voice of Trees” and the ‘voice sounds’ were hauntingly beautiful. The man’s objective was to demonstrate that trees are alive and can express themselves. It was moving and very thought provoking. Who are we to say it’s not possible?
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That is SO cool!
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Let me know if you get this comment. They’re disappearing…
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Got it and I was looking for a hidden message
in there somewhere but nothing jumped out at me.
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Thanks!
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This is so lovely, Nancy. Made me a little weepy. Joking aside, it is sad to see trees get cut down.
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Good one, Michele!
It is sad to see them discarded in the street. 🌲
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Thanks! Not too hard, that one. 😁 Trees are a pretty element of Christmas but yes, I agree. I did not do a tree this year or last. That’s a bit sad too; easy cleanup though!
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Well, being a Vermonter, my take is a little different. The trees are grown as a crop and employ many people. The farmers nurture the earth, replant every year, the trees keep the air clean, and we have a pretty good ‘merry much’ program that turns the mulched trees into beautiful garden mulch that eventually returns to the soil. Everyone wins.
However, I think Leyland and Willow would probably not like the looks of the mulcher…
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I love this response, D!
I just replied to Nick about a tree farm owner near me who plants two trees for every one that’s purchased. It’s nice to read from someone ‘in the know’ that this is an actual practice and not just talk. Of course everything you said makes sense …. especially my trees not liking the looks of the mulcher!
Thanks for your thoughtful comments, D!
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It’s hard to drive a road around here without bumping into a tree farm!
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I also feel that millions of trees are cut every year and then discarded after Christmas.
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Absolutely, and that’s not even taking into account the trees that aren’t purchased.
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Very true. 🌲🌲🌲
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Agree 120% with your notes, Nancy.
Trees… such ancient lifeforms; I love them endlessly.
Excellent ink🌲✒
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Raping the land. There is a large tree farm not far from me. The owners claim for every tree that someone purchases from them, they will plant two. It’s a plan that sounds good in theory.
Grazie, Nick.
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