“We really need some rain” Bruce, a mighty, decades old oak tree said to his friend and neighbor, Piney, an equally impressive evergreen. They were situated in such a way that they overlooked the hill in front of them but couldn’t see one another.
“Yeah, besides the thirst, I’m worried the fires may start to kick up” Piney answered.
“It’s only a matter of time my friend” Bruce said.
Later that night Bruce was proven correct. First, the faint smell of smoke turned into a thick cloud and then the heat could slowly be felt. Before long, visible light from the flames was flickering dangerously close to them.
“This could be it, Bruce, after decades by your side overlooking this infinite beauty. Now we may be going back to where we came” Piney said.
“It was all worth it, my friend” was his stoic response.
The heat encroached little by little, drying out already arid bark. Just as Bruce and Piney gave up hope of seeing tomorrow, both felt what they thought was a miracle. Drops of water started to clean the blown ash from their leaves.
The drops turned into a cascade. The sounds of sizzling from suffocating fire was all around them.
“This is turning out to be quite the ripper” Bruce shouted over the howling gale winds and sheets of falling water.
“Yeah! And in little time will arrive the first tomorrow I am truly looking forward to in a while” Piney gleefully responded.
The both stood in silence, swaying in the wind, letting it take them in the direction of its desires. Deep in the Earth, their roots were quenched.
Bruce started nodding off when an extremely bright flash brought momentary day to the mountain. Bruce thought it was a dream until the air ripping boom reverberated throughout the valley.
“That one hit a little close, didn’t it Piney?” Bruce asked, now completely awake from his slumber.
There was no answer.
“Piney?”
There was still no answer.
The next morning an early hawk perched itself on one of Bruce’s high boughs. Bruce asked “Please, hawk, lend me your eyes, what has become of my friend Piney?”
The hawk turned and saw an evergreen tree split down the middle from a lightning strike. The task of bearing such news was too much for the hawk. He simply said “Sorry Bruce” and flew away. That was enough for Bruce to understand.
By Ryan 