THE THREE WANDERING TREES
High on a snowy mountain, three trees, neighbors for hundreds of years, exchanged complaints.
‘All we ever talk about is eagle this, hawk that, or oh the bear has twins this year. I, for one, would like to go over to the other side of the valley and see what’s beyond the glacier,’ said the tallest, bushiest tree.
‘You and me both. I think I’ll scream the next time an arrow of geese passes by overhead. Just exactly how are we to go about seeing beyond the glacier, being rooted and all? Tell me that, oh tall and bushy,’ said the thinner of the short twins.
The chubbier twin chuckled.
‘What if a sorceress spells us with the ability to walk?’ said the tall tree, not really believing anything like that could happen, but saying it just to have something to say.
Right then is when a strange thing occurred. A sorceress in a sky sleigh pulled by eight pelicans and four swans sailed to a landing in front of the three trees. Her long purple silk scarf lifted in the breeze, and she regarded the trees with her flash golden eyes.
‘You spoke. I heard. I grant your wish,’ she said, and without another word, she was swept off into the sky and away by the eight pelicans and four swans.
‘Uh, did that just happen?’ said the thin twin after several moments of silence had passed.
‘I don’t know,’ said tall and bushy.
The chubbier twin chuckled.
Hardly daring to dare, the tallest tree strained to tug and take a root step.
‘I did it! I can do it!’ said the tree, staggering in circles.
The twins followed the tall tree’s example, and soon the three of them were dashing about, giggling madly.
‘Wait!’ cried the tall tree, suddenly slamming to a halt of stillness. ‘The glacier. Let’s go see what’s beyond the glacier!’
And they did.
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