A Revolting Development

Written for Melissa’s Fandango Flash Fiction
Challenge using the image for inspiration.
Here’s where the image took me.

For forty years, Hank, the oak tree had watched cars zoom past without a second glance. Nobody appreciated his shade. Nobody thanked him for his acorns. Not once had anyone said, “Nice bark, Hank.”

So one morning, Hank made a decision. He absorbed the stop sign.

Slowly …. deliberately …. right into his trunk, like a long, satisfying meal.

The town was baffled. The city sent inspectors. A viral tweet read: “Local tree DONE with traffic.”

But Hank felt no remorse. Every car that rolled to a confused halt was a tiny victory. Every driver who squinted and muttered “Is that inside the tree?” was a moment of pure joy.

Finally, people were paying attention to him.

The mayor proposed removing Hank; the neighborhood revolted.

Hank had become, at last, significant.

Now he was the landmark.

NAR©2026
#MFFFC

This is “Oak Tree” by Morris Day

Melissa’s Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge #376

^{Everything on The Elephant’s Trunk was created by me, unless otherwise indicated. Thank you for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.}