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A Revolting Development

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

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

© Jonathan Cooper @ Unsplash

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.

Image by Me & ChatGPT

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.

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