Saturday, 6 April 2013

FRIDAY FICTIONEERS - IN MEMORY OF A TREE - MY 100 WORDS BY LINDA PALUND




In Memory of a Tree

            Paco told us there would be a tree.  I couldn’t wait to see it.  I sneaked over the ridge, the vision of the tree in my head; tall trunk, sturdy branches, green leaves blotting out the scorching sun.
            This tree was ugly; gnarled, and twisted, broken bits all over. I turned away in disgust.
            “You’re disappointed.”  I turned to see a creature as unlike the tree as a butterfly from a caterpillar.
             “It’s ugly! And Paco said it was the last one!”
            “Paco was wrong.  There are no more trees.  This is what he remembers.  It's his tree, not yours.”
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19 comments:

  1. janet6 April 2013 at 02:50

    I like the contrasts you have here--the two ideas of a tree, the comparison between the tree and the creature. The tree being a memory is intriguing, too.

    janet

    ReplyDelete
  2. Linda Palund6 April 2013 at 05:07

    Thanks Janet. I hoped I pulled it off. It started as one of those 500 plus stories, so it was really hard to whittle it down (don't mind the slight pun).

    ReplyDelete
  3. Rochelle Wisoff-Fields6 April 2013 at 10:51

    Dear Linda,
    It would be a sorry world without trees. You did a nice job of trimming down your story. Good job.
    Shalom
    Rochelle

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Linda Palund6 April 2013 at 14:31

      Thanks, Rochelle,
      But boy, it was hard.
      Shalom to you too

      Delete
  4. Anonymous6 April 2013 at 11:30

    you painted a great and sad story even in just 100 words, a world without trees-- that'd be horrible. i hope this tale remains as fiction ^^

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  5. Jules6 April 2013 at 16:56

    Adore the twang of Sci-fi.
    You could go places with this one as a beginning :)

    Thank you for your visit.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Linda Palund6 April 2013 at 17:07

    Thanks. Just a little hint of doom...

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous6 April 2013 at 20:00

    I sure hope I don't live to see the last tree! Good story Linda. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Nick6 April 2013 at 20:48

    I loved this Linda. There is a weight of untold back story behind it that gives it depth. Good stuff!

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  9. Anonymous6 April 2013 at 20:54

    Agreed with others. Very nicely done.

    ReplyDelete
  10. gesslar7 April 2013 at 02:04

    We might be kindred souls! I like how the main voice thinks they're getting something and it turns out there was nothing for them to have. How many times have we striven and found nothing at the end?

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  11. Linda Palund7 April 2013 at 03:10

    Yup. I thought as much. Boy, and I'm there now. Not quite I expected from the world at this point in time....

    ReplyDelete
  12. Perry Block7 April 2013 at 05:27

    Intriguing idea, a world without trees and memories of the last one as warped and ugly. What goes here? I want to know more!

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    Replies
    1. Linda Palund7 April 2013 at 15:16

      Thanks...Just an idea that got pared down to a glimpse of an ugly tree.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous7 April 2013 at 11:34

    A sense of dread here, like in a dystopian futuristic story. Well written to capture that sense, with the disappointment turning out to be a memory and not even a real tree.

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    Replies
    1. Linda Palund7 April 2013 at 15:17

      Thanks...Yes, kind have these survivors in mind who only get this far...

      Delete
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