They call her the ‘Crying Tree’. Grief wells from her roots, spilling out where once her limb held a swing. How she loved the laughter of children as they squealed “higher! higher!”
It was a dreadful day when lightening struck the base of her swinging bough. No one noticed she was injured.
When the sun returned, a child called Ruthie rushed to the tree swing. The tree struggled to hold the girl. She moaned and crackled as her bough snapped plunging Ruthie to the ground in a lifeless heap.
It wasn’t her fault but she never forgave herself. She weeps.
~kat
100 Words for Jane Dougherty’s Friday Fictioneers Challenge inspired by this photo by © Sandra Crook.
like mercury colliding... 
October 19th, 2017 at 4:07 pm
Oh, a Beautiful and Dark Tragedy for both living creature. 😎😎😎🥀🥀🥀
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October 19th, 2017 at 4:21 pm
Wonderful Kat.
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October 19th, 2017 at 4:43 pm
So sad 🌹
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October 19th, 2017 at 5:45 pm
I know. This photo felt sad to me.
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October 20th, 2017 at 2:56 am
Yes I know what you mean 💜
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October 19th, 2017 at 5:02 pm
This is so very clever Kat, and sad!
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October 19th, 2017 at 5:44 pm
Thank you Peter. I often wonder what the trees must be thinking as they watch the world rush by. 😊
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October 19th, 2017 at 5:17 pm
A real tragedy, I like the emotions of the tree, helpless to warn the child. Touching.
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October 19th, 2017 at 5:43 pm
I believe she would have if she could have.
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October 19th, 2017 at 5:22 pm
Oh how sad, but great story behind the photo prompt!
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October 19th, 2017 at 5:43 pm
Thanks. The tree just looked so sad to me. This was me imagining why…
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October 19th, 2017 at 7:32 pm
I felt for your two characters, who you brought to life well in this story.
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October 19th, 2017 at 7:33 pm
Thank you Michael. What the trees could tell us if they could speak.
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October 20th, 2017 at 7:35 am
A lovely one
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October 20th, 2017 at 1:44 pm
So sad ☹️ beautifully written
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October 20th, 2017 at 4:11 pm
Thank you Lynn. ❤️
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October 21st, 2017 at 8:33 am
A most compassionate tree. So sad, well written.
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October 21st, 2017 at 6:03 pm
Thanks Gran. ❤️
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October 21st, 2017 at 9:41 am
What a sad and sorrowful tale. Exquisite.
Click to read my FriFic!
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October 21st, 2017 at 5:57 pm
Thank you Keith! 😊
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October 21st, 2017 at 6:34 pm
Dear Kat,
Tragic and well told tale. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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October 21st, 2017 at 6:49 pm
Dear Rochelle,
Thank you for hosting the prompt. It is always such an interesting photo prompt.
Peace to you,
kat
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October 22nd, 2017 at 3:29 pm
Beautiful interpretation of the prompt, Kat. Loved the emotion of the tree over the hurt child. Sad that the people never reciprocated the emotion over the tree.
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October 22nd, 2017 at 6:15 pm
We are all connected I believe. Life in all its forms, a gift. Thank you Varad. ❤️
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October 23rd, 2017 at 4:34 am
Lovely!
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October 23rd, 2017 at 6:31 am
Thank you Sandra. ❤️
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October 31st, 2017 at 3:49 pm
It sounds like this tree lived a long happy life!
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October 31st, 2017 at 4:10 pm
Yes definitely full of all that is life. 😉❤️
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