Grandfather Tree

The children of the forest will tell you there is no more extraordinary teller of tales than Grandfather Tree. No one knows his exact age, but many say he was here when the great forest was but a meadow. If he is up to it, he may share the story. Perhaps you are lucky today, for Grandfather Tree looks like he is about to tell one of his magical tales.

Hello children, long ago before now, there once lived a small creature who was always afraid. If the sun showed, he would run and hide, the same for the moon. He would run and hide if he heard the sound of another animal. Even the wind blowing made this create run and hide. Every day was the same until, by chance, he met another who was just as afraid as he was. At first, both ran from each other, but after a few moments, the two creatures peered out from their hiding spot and realized that the other was not a threat to themselves.

The newcomer spoke first. “Are you going to eat me?” said the creature.

“Heavens, no, I only eat plants,” said the second.

“Oh, same for me,” said the first.

Both creatures approached and introduced each other. The first was Kufu, and the newcomer, who called herself Nadal, became great friends. The next day, the two were out gathering food when Kufu saw an object flying in the sky. “Quick, Nadal, we must seek cover before we get eaten,” said Kufu.

“From what?” asked Nadeal.

“That object in the sky will surely devour us,” cautioned Kufu.

“Ha, Ha, no, that’s just a feathered one, and they mostly eat nuts and tiny insects; we are much too big for their mouth,” said Nadal.

“Oh, I did not know that,” replied Kufu.

Later, after eating, they went down to the water’s edge to drink when something moved beneath the surface. “Stay back. We shall surely be snatched away in the water,” cried Nadal, running behind a rock.

Kufu looked into the stream, then smiled and told his friend it was only a tiny swimmer, and it was more afraid of them. “I have noticed we both understand what is bad and what is not,” said Kufu.

“Yes, like when you were scared of the feathered one, and I was scared of the swimmer. Maybe we should not be so scared of what we don’t know until we ask,” said Nadal. For the remainder of the day, they pointed out the dangers to each other and were soon convinced that while life was scary, unfounded fear was a greater danger to their safety.

“So my children, when you go home tonight and think there is a monster under your bed, remember Kufu and Nadal, don’t fear until you ask. Now it is time for me to rest, so run along and stay out of trouble,” said Grandfather Tree. Then he closed his eyes and became as still as stone.