Fallen
March 11, 2015 at 5:00 pm 44 comments
For Friday Fictioneers 100-Word Challenge 13 March 2015
Photo Credit: Sandra Cook
For generations, the tree had provided a nesting haven for birds and shade to passersby on summer days. But to the town’s elders, it wasn’t enough. It had to go as part of the road-widening project.
It appeared mighty proud and strong. It survived the strongest storms. But it had no match against the men in hard hats and power tools. They slowly tore down its defenses until it could resist no more.
“Timber!” One of them shouted. The tree fell down crashing to the ground.
Above, a mother bird shrieked helplessly around the spot where the tree once stood.
Entry filed under: Blogroll, friday fictioneers. Tags: fiction, nothing lasts forever, tree.
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Musings of a Random Mind 
1.
lingeringvisions by Dawn | March 11, 2015 at 5:20 pm
This was a little sad. But a good story.
A little cc…shade does not need to be plural in paragraph one.
2.
plaridel | March 11, 2015 at 6:44 pm
dawn:
i stand corrected. updated as we speak. thank you.
3.
lingeringvisions by Dawn | March 11, 2015 at 6:49 pm
That is what we are here for, to help each other out.
4.
plaridel | March 12, 2015 at 9:26 am
dawn:
i’m so happy i’m in good company. thank you again. 🙂
5.
Francesca Smith | March 11, 2015 at 5:31 pm
This reminds me of a tree I used to climb years ago, until the new owners of the land chopped it down.
Although this is sad, in a way, it bought back wonderful memories.
6.
plaridel | March 11, 2015 at 6:45 pm
fran:
it was based on a personal experience. when i was a kid, i watched a tree cut down to make way for a new fence. it fell down with a nest of baby birds. the memory of the mother bird helplessly shrieking above has remained with me up to this time.
7.
Rachel Bjerke | March 11, 2015 at 10:07 pm
That experience must have been awful!! I would’ve cried for days!!
Great story reflecting such a heartbreaking memory, I won’t forget this one for a long time.
8.
plaridel | March 12, 2015 at 9:26 am
rachel:
the baby birds survived and the kids took them home. i’d like to take care one of them too but at that time i was so low in the totem pole the elder kids wouldn’t let me.
9.
Sandra | March 12, 2015 at 1:08 am
Nothing sadder than the destruction of a tree. Nicely done.
10.
plaridel | March 12, 2015 at 9:26 am
sandra:
that is very true.
11.
dmmacilroy | March 12, 2015 at 1:27 am
Dear Plaridel,
A sad thing, the loss of a tree and its attendant birds. Very well done and sad for all of us.
Aloha,
Doug
12.
plaridel | March 12, 2015 at 9:27 am
doug:
it was a tree back to my boyhood years. although long gone, it still lives in my memory.
13.
rochellewisoff | March 12, 2015 at 1:28 am
Dear Plaridel,
And that’s what they call progress. Well done.
A couple of suggestions…”They slowly tore…” as opposed to torn.
I think your final sentence would be stronger “a mother bird shrieked…”
A good story nonetheless.
Shalom,
Rochelle
14.
plaridel | March 12, 2015 at 9:28 am
rochelle:
i appreciate your careful reading. i made the corrections as you suggested. they were right on the money. thank you again.
15.
draliman | March 12, 2015 at 5:57 am
Very sad, all in the name of “progress”.
16.
plaridel | March 12, 2015 at 9:29 am
draliman:
yes, it’s very sad.
17.
Priceless Joy | March 12, 2015 at 11:14 am
How mortifying. That was doubly sad, times how many baby birds were still in the nest.
18.
plaridel | March 12, 2015 at 2:57 pm
i believe there were three baby birds. anyway, i kind of fictionalized the event changing the new fence thing with road-widening in the story.
19.
Priceless Joy | March 12, 2015 at 3:09 pm
Even so, it was sad for the tree and the birds. Great story!
20.
plaridel | March 13, 2015 at 8:31 pm
priceless joy:
thank you for reading. it’s very encouraging.
21.
aliciajamtaas | March 12, 2015 at 3:37 pm
I have a tree like that in my history – an old oak that my sisters and I climbed each time we visited my grandparents. The one day it was gone and houses were there. Very sad. It, too, was a good friend. Well done.
22.
plaridel | March 13, 2015 at 8:31 pm
alicia:
i guess nothing lasts forever.
23.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) | March 13, 2015 at 1:54 pm
I think telling it from the bird’s perspective add a dimension of sadness .. Trees are marvelous living things..
24.
plaridel | March 13, 2015 at 8:32 pm
björn:
it’s just sad that humans have the capacity to destroy in an instant what nature takes time to grow.
25.
gahlearner | March 13, 2015 at 5:29 pm
This was very moving and sad. We had somewhat similar ideas this week, but your story is more emotional than mine. 🙂
26.
plaridel | March 13, 2015 at 8:32 pm
gahlearner:
thank you for reading. i really appreciate it.
27.
FabricatingFiction | March 14, 2015 at 12:21 am
Very moving.
28.
plaridel | March 14, 2015 at 4:00 pm
louise:
thank you for reading.
29.
Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist | March 15, 2015 at 12:14 am
A good story but so sad. Sad for humanity, the tree and the birds.
30.
plaridel | March 15, 2015 at 12:07 pm
irene:
thank you for reading. I deeply appreciate it.
31.
Amy Reese | March 15, 2015 at 6:00 pm
It’s always hard to see a tree go. We had to cut down a beautiful one, but it was diseased. It was a very sad day. I know the birds miss it, too. Great story.
32.
plaridel | March 16, 2015 at 8:59 am
amy:
i know the feeling.
33.
rgayer55 | March 16, 2015 at 9:27 am
I always find it sad when an old tree dies or is destroyed. The term “progress” is rarely what it’s cracked up to be. Great job, plaridel.
34.
plaridel | March 17, 2015 at 9:45 am
russell:
i understand the feeling.
35.
sustainabilitea | March 16, 2015 at 4:32 pm
All too real, Plaridel, as you know from experience. It’s a sad day when trees must be felled, even if for a good purpose. Whether this is a good purpose depends, I’m sure, on who’s asked.
janet
36.
plaridel | March 17, 2015 at 9:45 am
janet:
i know what you mean. all we can hope is a happy medium.
37.
patrickprinsloo | March 17, 2015 at 3:00 am
It’s happening all the time. You’ve covered this issue very well – bravo.
38.
plaridel | March 17, 2015 at 9:46 am
patrick:
i agree and it’s all in the name of progress.
39.
Suzanne Joshi | March 17, 2015 at 5:33 am
How sad, Plaridel, when money overcomes the importance of caring for natural things. This sounds like what’s happening in the city where we live. I often wonder how many more roads they can build. Well done. — Suzanne
40.
plaridel | March 17, 2015 at 9:47 am
suzanne:
sadly, money talks. as population grows, more roads are needed changing the landscape forever.
41.
Leigh W. Smith | March 18, 2015 at 5:04 am
Depressingly authentic, Plaridel. I like your title choice as well, which cuts (no pun intended) at least two or three ways.
42.
plaridel | March 18, 2015 at 1:50 pm
leigh:
you’re so perceptive. 🙂
43.
afairymind | March 19, 2015 at 10:00 am
Sad but unfortunately true. Good story. 🙂
44.
plaridel | March 19, 2015 at 3:11 pm
afairymind:
i’m glad you liked it. thank you for reading.