He got me down and he took me home; only I couldnt stay there。 I couldnt stand the sound
of chain saws in the distance。
So Dad took me with him to work; and while he put up a block wall; I sat in his truck and cried。
I mustve cried for two weeks straight。 Oh; sure; I went to school and I functioned the best I
could; but I didnt go there on the bus。 I started riding
my bike instead; taking the long way so I wouldnt have to go up to Collier Street。 Up to a pile
of sawdust that used to be the earths most
magnificent sycamore tree。
Then one evening when I was locked up in my room; my father came in with something
under a towel。 I could tell it was a painting because thats
how he transports the important ones when he shows them in the park。 He sat down; resting
the painting on the floor in front of him。 “I always liked
that tree of yours;” he said。 “Even before you told me about it。”
“Oh; Dad; its okay。 Ill get over it。”
“No; Julianna。 No; you wont。”
I started crying。 “It was just a tree…。”
“I never want you to convince yourself of that。 You and I both know it isnt true。”
“But Dad…”
“Bear with me a minute; would you?” He took a deep breath。 “I want the spirit of that tree to
be with you always。 I want you to remember how you
felt when you were up there。” He hesitated a moment; then handed me the painting。 “So I
made this for you。”
I pulled off the towel; and there was my tree。 My beautiful; majestic sycamore tree。 Through
the branches hed painted the fire of sunrise; and it
seemed to me I could feel the wind。 And way up in the tree was a tiny girl looking off into the
distance; her cheeks flushed with wind。 With joy。 With
magic。
“Dont cry; Julianna。 I want it to help you; not hurt you。” I wiped the tears from my cheeks and
gave a mighty sniff。 “Thank you; Daddy;” I choked out。
“Thank you。”
I hung the painting across the room from my bed。 Its the first thing I see every morning and
the last thing I see every night。 And now that I can look
at it without crying; I see more than the tree and what being up in its branches meant to me。
I see the day that my view of things around me started changing。