The Trees Can Talk
Written and Illustrated by De’Siree A. Fairley
Do you ever wonder if the trees can talk? You see them waving in the wind, but is that their cover?
There was a girl that believed that trees could talk. Her name was Cynthia Burns. Cynthia was eleven years old and lived in North Carolina. She loved nature and books. One day while sitting in the forest Cynthia heard something… a whisper, she looked around to see if anyone was there.
“Hello” she said
There was no answer.
“Hello” she said again.
Feeling a little frightened, she ran home as far as she could. But before she was half way there she realized she had left her book behind. When she returned, she noticed the book was gone. Cynthia heard a noise which sounded a lot like paper turning and rattling. Out of nowhere the book had fallen from an old tree. As she ran home with her book, she wondered how it got up there.
Maybe a squirrel took it, she said under her breath, running.
As she slept that night she had a dream about that day in the forest. Still pondering about how the book got in that tree.
At breakfast Cynthia sat quietly eating her eggs and pancakes.
Cynthia you’re really quiet this morning, said her mother
Oh, it’s the last of school and I got a lot on my mind, said Cynthia
She was still sitting quietly trying to figure out a way to go back to the forest without anyone knowing. After she finished breakfast, she put her plat in the dish washer. Cynthia started getting her things ready for school. As she was leaving, she watched her mom get in her car to go to work.
Bye mom, she said.
Bye honey, said Ms. Burns.
Cynthia walked to the bus stop and sat down. Her friend Ruby saw Cynthia sitting there thinking about something. This worried Ruby a little because she never saw Cynthia think this hard about anything before.
Cynthia are you okay, asked Ruby?
Yes, why does every one keep asking! (Cynthia sounding a little angry).
You look a little upset, said Ruby.
Okay, yesterday while I was in the forest…
Bus is here, tell me after school, said Ruby.
When they got to school that day they didn’t have any class work. All they did was play games, eat and talk about plans for the summer.
Okay class time to go home so get your things together. Mrs. Freckles said in a nasal like voice.
Come on Cynthia they called our bus, said Ruby
I’m coming, said Cynthia
Hey Cynthia, Ruby asked in a whisper, What did you want to tell me?
Yesterday, I was in the forest reading my nature book when I heard someone talking in a quiet voice, when I looked around there was not one there, so I ran home frightened.
Remembering I had left my book. I ran back to get it, but when I got there it was gone. I could hear pages turning somewhere above me.
That's creepy, ruby said stunned.
Yeah, I know said Cynthia.
See you tomorrow, said Ruby.
Yeah see ya, said Cynthia.
The next morning, Cynthia got up as early as she could to go to the forest as see if the trees had picked up her book. But the first thing she had to do was try and find a way for the trees to trust her.
I've got it, I will read to them and water them daily, said Cynthia.
So after a long week of reading and watering the trees, Cynthia heard a little baby tree say something.
Cynthia.
What, said Cynthia?
Cynthia, the little tree started to sound a little frightened.
I knew it, I knew it, you can talk!
Yes we can, said another tree looking at the baby tree.
We can talk, move, read, and see, said another.
Cynthia was so happy.
But we are not supposed to talk to humans, said the old tree that took her book.
Why not, Cynthia interrupted.
As I was saying, said the old tree. If humans knew that we talked, they would cut us down and sell us to science, the tree said sadly.
Not all humans are like that, some people are trying to save the forests, Cynthia said.
Are you trying to save us? Said the baby tree.
Not yet.
Then you are destroying us, said the old tree
Now wait a minute, you are trying to twist my words around. I’m working my way up to completely saving you. To start off I recycles cans, newspaper, and glass bottles, Cynthia said.
The baby tree gleamed.
Anything else, said the old tree.
Not yet that’s all I could think of so far, said Cynthia.
Okay, that definitely a start, said the old tree.
I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, said Cynthia.
Why, said the baby tree.
Mom probably wants me home, bye everyone, said Cynthia.
Bye Cynthia, they replied.
When Cynthia woke, she was standing in front of the Secret Tree Council. The Council consisted of the oldest and wisest trees alive.
Hey, where am I, said Cynthia?
The Secret Tree Council, said the elder tree.
Cynthia asked, Why am I here?
You are here because you can talk to trees, said the elder tree.
Yes, I can and it’s wonderful!
I wanted to know if they took my book, said Cynthia.
That’s it no science experiments? Said the one tree.
Nope, said Cynthia.
You’re fee to go, said the tree.
Wait, before you leave, sign this.
What is it? Said Cynthia.
A contact, said the elder tree.
First let me read it, said Cynthia.
It said:
I Cynthia Burns will not harm the trees in any way, this means no cutting, burning, or any other thing that may harm us.
Okay, I’ll sing it because I want to be your friend, said Cynthia.
You are free to go we need to take a vote about your visits. Once we make a decision we will let you know, said the eldest tree.
Okay, said Cynthia.
That day, Cynthia, Ruby and her mom took a walk to the forest to have a picnic.
Pssst Cynthia, whispered Ruby, are those the trees who took your book?
Yeah, said Cynthia.
Mom, I was going to tell you that the forest is enchanted, Cynthia’s voice was filled with excitement.
Cynthia told her mom and Ruby all about the trees and their history. She told them how the oldest tree has been there since 100 B.C.
That’s impossible, Ruby and Ms. Burns said together.
When Ruby finally left, Cynthia went to sleep. Ms. Burns had an idea, she thought that it would make Cynthia really happy if the trees could not be hurt by anyone again. Ms. Burns made a phone call to Science Discovers. The woman on the phone said that they would be happy to help out Cynthia and the trees. They arrived and preserved the trees with some kind of gas, wasn't harmful. When Cynthia woke up, her mom told her all about what she had done. Cynthia hugged her mom and went to see the trees. When Cynthia arrived at the forest she started to tell the trees what her mom had done. The Secret Tree Council was delighted.
Cynthia because you and your mom have done this wonderful thing for us, you are given an eternity pass, said the elder tree.
What does this mean, said Cynthia.
You are free to come here any time you wish, said the elder tree.
Cynthia was absolutely thrilled. This is the best gift anyone could ever have.
Every since that day, Cynthia visited the trees and told them about her day. When Cynthia grew older, she married and had children. Cynthia would often take her children to the forest. They would sit and talk for hours. Cynthia told her children to always respect the trees.
This is a book written by my daughter De'Siree A. Fairley. This book is about a girl named Cynthia who believed that trees can talk. Follow Cynthia's adventure to see what she has to do in order to find out if trees can really talk.
