I envied the children in Paxton Close they had the tree. It stood outside Mark and Richard’s. In the summer we would sit underneath it, when I ran away, it was my destination. I could still see my bedroom window.
Calming, gnarled old tree missed the field in which it used to stand, surrounded by wild grass instead of muddy children, yet it watched over us as we grew up.
Decades later, all the families have been replaced. I drive past sometimes and thank it for the memories. It stands firm ready to nurture the next generation of muddy children.
awritersfountain 
I like the idea of the tree spanning the generations of muddy children.
janet
Thanks Janet, I guess what hit me the most was the journey the tree made without moving. The constant in an ever-changing world.
Full Circle – Circle of life – it’s all in those few 100 words somewhere!
Thanks for the comment.
Beautiful! A tree is for everyone to enjoy for generations. I like that the tree was the destination when she ran away.
Thanks. I like the fact that the tree will be there for generations too.
Okay, so I didn’t wait until the morning 🙂 I really like this story. As you say – complete opposite to mine. It’s nice and quaint
I am glad you read it tonight, you won’t have nightmares now. There were lots of dark stories from this beautiful tree bathed in light!
Thanks for the comment.
You’re welcome 🙂
I like that you have the tree stand as guardian of muddy children over the years. Great story.
Thanks, I liked the facts the roots were so far grown that the housing had to be built around it. How the tree adapted to the loss of its environment. I enjoyed writing this week’s flash.
Sweet story – last line especially – a lovely idea that it will go on to provide a haven for the next generation.
Thanks, in a Flash (which is a genre I am new to) I find it so hard to finish in a way that keeps the story going, I think the tree has managed that here.
Beautfiful. Simple and lovely. You spanned three generations and took me along for the ride.
shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks Rochelle, it’s the 1st time I came & saw the photograph on Wednesday, I had plenty of pondering time! Glad you enjoyed it.
Lovely story. I particularly liked the sense of continuity, the tree a constant in a changing world. 🙂
Thank you – glad you enjoyed the cycle.
It’s as if you read my mind. As the decades passed and I went back to visit, I often wondered who was climbing my favorite tree, riding her bike all over town like I did or sat on the floor with elbows on the windowsill dreaming of her future….like I did. Thank you for the memories.
You’re welcome, I think the same. I still get my haircut with an old neighbour/ family friend, she is a trained stylist and I prefer it to the Salon, she still lives opposite my childhood home, which has changed lots over the years. I often think about the people that live there and remember what it was like in my childhood.
I like the tree’s continuance — and for the narrator’s appreciation of it. Thankfully, the tree survived when the neighborhood was developed!
Thanks, I couldn’t destroy the tree… it is the heart of the community. Glad you enjoyed it.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
I guess so – in some respects, thanks for reading.
wonderful story. i agree with everyone, the idea of the tree nurturing generation after generation is great 🙂
Thank you Kz, glad you enjoyed it.