“I am the wind!” he shouted, “I shake! Shake! Make all the leaves fall down!” He laughed and shouted as he rocked.
The little tree in his grip sighed and answered, “Swishing, swooshing”. A few yellow leaves drifted down and all about the little boy, much to his delighted satisfaction.
From that day on, when he walked by that tree on the path he dutifully gave it a good shake. “Swishing, swooshing” said the tree each time.
But one day the answer was different. “Swishing, swooshing, BUZZ! BUZZ! BUZZ!” said the tree and the bees who were visiting just then.
“Yikes!” yelped the little boy. He ran away as fast as he could. But he could not run as fast as bees buzz. The bees caught up and delivered two sharp stings to the galloping child. “Ouch! Youch! Mama!” cried the little boy all the way home.
His Mama made a paste of baking soda and water to smear on his stings. She kissed him gently and asked him if he might figure out some way to make friends with the tree and the bees. The little boy got to thinking. Then he took to walking. He found himself back up the path and standing by the very same tree of bees.
He rested his hands on the smooth young bark. He looked up to admire the colorful leaves dancing all over the bright sky. It made him blink and smile. He sat down to see if he could catch a glimpse of his own eyelashes blinking. But you might know how tricky that is. First he giggled and then he yawned. Then he fell asleep right there under the gentle hum of bees.
As he slept he dreamed he was a giant. His footsteps were earthquakes. The wind was in his roar and the wake as he passed you by. The buzzing of bees above our sleeping boy entered his dreams becoming the giant’s windy breathe. The blowing of the wind made the trees dance.
“I am the wind!” he blustered, “I shake! Shake! Make ALL the leaves fall down!”
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Rumpus Publications,
110 Cedar Ave North, Eatonville, WA 9832
tel: 360/832-8298
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