Ethan has known the Talking Tree in the meadow behind our house for a long time. He has knotholes perfectly placed for eyes on either side of a gap in the bark for his nose. A curved stick serves as his mouth. He and Ethan have talked for years – about the river, its creature and ice floats, the Scary Forest, what walking around feels like, and much more.
The Talking Tree is newer to Eliana, but she has discovered his secret: he talks because Daddy holds the curved stick and moves it as he talks for the tree. She also realized that it doesn’t have to be Daddy. She can make the tree talk, too, and she can make him happy or sad depending on how she holds the stick.
I don’t know why the tree was sad today; I was as happy has can be being part of Eliana’s creativity.
