LONELY TREE - Nazire KUTSAL
LONELY TREE
Emre's house was
neighboring to a big, lonely and neglected garden where he was playing ball.
Each time he was trying different kick, thinking "may be in future I'll
become a great footballer" and once he shot the ball so hardly that the
rising ball hit swiftly to the branches of a tree afar and made all leaves fall.
Emre ran towards the tree and took his ball back without considering the leaf-fall.
While he was dribbling the ball to another direction he suddenly had a feeling
that someone just behind him was exclaiming "You, the little naughty boy!"
So he looked around but could see no one over there, he was completely alone
in the garden. As there was nothing to be scolded for, he continued playing
with his ball surmising that the voice he heard was unreal.
The following day
he was flying kite in the same garden. Unfortunately, the tail of his kite was
stuck to the branches of that big tree. Though he tried hard, he could not be
able to set the long and beautiful tail of kite free. There was nothing to do
but climbing to the tree, so he climbed and pulled backed the tail so harshly
that all of the fresh and green branches of the tree were broken. He was about
to step down when the same voice "You, the little naughty boy" echoed
in his ears. It was such a close and ear-splitting voice that he would almost
fall down.
"Who was shouting
to drill my ear-drums?" exclaimed Emre. The same voice replied, "It
is me". There was nobody around. Was it someone joking? "Get out of
your hideaway and do tell me why you are scolding me?" shouted Emre. "How
can't you see me cause I am not hiding. I am the tree you climbed up!"
answered the voice.
Emre got thoroughly
angry and asked," You can't cheat me, have you ever heard that the trees
talk?" He heard a desperate sigh saying, "Do believe me that talking
is me. It is me, the tree. If you listen carefully you will see that the voice
belongs to me. The trees do talk as well."
Emre was utterly
bewildered. When he paid careful attention to the tree, he realized that the
tree was telling the truth.
"I believed
in you" said Emre and added, " This is quite amazing but at the same
time very nice too." The tree kept talking " I scolded you for you
had pulled all my leaves apart and broken my branches. I understand you, the
little naughty boy; you broke my branches in order to prevent the tail of your
kite from deformation. You can remake a kite from colorful papers, but I have
to work without taking account the time of day, month or year to let my branches
lengthen and my leaves green again. I don't mind working, but the broken branches
never grow as beautiful as they used to be. That is why I am upset and I scolded
you unwillingly".
Emre looked at
the broken branches and fading leaves in the palm of his hand. Realizing how
wrong he was, he continued, "It is really bad, I could not see how harmful
I was. Well, do you talk to the others the way you talk to me?" "Yes
sure, but most people pretend not to have heard. We would have died out long
ago if we didn't have friend who showed us affection knowing that we, the trees
were the reason of health and happiness. If so, I would not have a chance of
living here for so long" said the tree.
"How old are
you?" asked Emre.
"I am exactly
at the age of two hundreds" answered the tree.
"Wow! What
a long life it is. How nice! Please tell me your life story," asked him.
"Will you
not get bored if it takes long?"
"Of course
not", replied Emre, "I will really be pleased to listen to you".
The tree was very affected by his interest and said, "Then come and sit
close to me and lean against my body, look at my leaves with your beautiful
eyes so that I will alleviate all your tiredness, and increase your pleasure
while you are listening to me".
Emre sat on the
ground leaning against the body of the tree. Then, he had the feeling the tree
had just mentioned. And the tree began to tell his life story:
"It was so
long that I was as young as you are. On a spring day, some people carefully
planted me and many other saplings in this garden where you are playing ball.
They did not only water us frequently, but also plowed the soil of us. We slept
in comfort under a puffed soil just like your sleeping under a puffy quilt.
We were grown up by the sunlight and cheered by the spring winds. We blossomed
pink, yellow and white flowers. When we were young we used to need continuous
care like a little child. In autumn, when the weather got colder and the sky
got cloudier, we used to understand that it was the time to hibernate for us.
The winds were whispering in our ears "Come on, fall asleep quickly! It
will snow soon and that is the only way for you to be protected from freezing
under snow". So we used to fall asleep quickly until the next spring when
we would be wakening a bit grown up. N time we became grown-up and beautiful
trees adorning this great garden entirely. We all used to have names as well;
pine, plane, oak, chestnut, Judas, juniper, etc. I know that it is a bit strange,
but in fact it is not so different from your names of Emre, Sinan, Fatos, Ayse…
All birds used to twitter on our branches. Do you know that no matter how various
kinds of music are developed, the twittering of birds is the only music that
maximizes the joy of life? I should mention not only the trees in this garden,
but also the vegetation covering larger surfaces, shouldn't I? It was just then
squirrels, rabbits, deer, cunning foxes and badgers used to wander around, make
their nests and bring up lovely young in a green environment. We used to stretch
out our branches towards the sky to bring the clouds closer and let it rain.
Then there used to be plenty of waters and foods, and a sweet-smelling used
to cover all around. People used to settle in the vicinity of us, and use our
lumbers for the construction of chairs, tables and bedsteads for themselves
and for their children. We used to live in such a complete harmony that I can
not find a word to describe. Then, years passed and peoples' lives and type
of living were changed through the passing years. Those beautiful houses where
the doves used to sing were destroyed; the rain refused to fall as it used to
do; the animals ran away; birds lessened; there was no one caring us or plowing
the soil around. The tough soil turned into hard quilts and all my friends died
out. Apartment houses were constructed adjacent to us. People used to raise
their heads up and look at us, but now the roles are changed and we are looking
at people living in these rising apartment houses. Then, we used to provide
them flowers, fruits and greens. But for now, people easily throw garbage, plastic
bags, broken toys, papers and rags over us. We are suffering from being broken
and pulled up. As long as people are merciless, bushes and thorny plants like
the ill-mannered children are circling around us. I address all and ask them
to look for us because we love them and we are quite vital for them. I live
longing for those days and those friends of mine. But I can say that it is not
quite easy".
Emre stood up;
he was in a deep confusion. He fondled the thick body of the tree and said "Don't
be upset, I will talk to my friends about you and you will have lots of friends".
And he made his way home running.
The following day
Emre told everything about the tree to his friends. And all his friends decided
not only to be the friends of this lonely tree, but also to help it. They went
to the garden along with their digging tools; they plowed the soil and watered
the tree. They also dug pits around the tree where they later on planted saplings
and flowers in. The great tree couldn't believe his eyes; he was surrounded
by little pine trees, oaks and Judas trees, and the flowers in various colors
beautified this environment. The tree was so pleased from the efforts of Emre
and his friends that his leaves became brighter as if they had never been before.
"You made me a great favor, but you should know that you made this favor
for yourselves instead," said the tree.
While Emre and
his friends were a bit weary but very happy on their way home, the tree was
calling happily behind "You, the smart naughty boy, you, the sweet naughty
boy…"…
Nazire KUTSAL