TALE OF TWO TREES
Written by Barbara Ann Mojica
Heather was sitting with her mom and grandmother on the couch when her younger brother, Alex and her dad walked into the living room with the artificial Christmas tree. A gasp of horror escaped from their lips simultaneously. Dad proudly announced, “Isn’t it beautiful, and we don’t have to worry about finding pine needles in the rug next July.” Mom and Heather managed to slowly stand. But we were planning to go to buy our tree tomorrow! Dad just smiled, “Alex and I thought we would surprise you. We bought some beautiful new ornmanets too.” Heather peeked into the bag. She found some glass ornaments shaped like pine cones in bright colors that were covered with sparkles. “These are hideous! You can’t be serious about putting this up in our living room.”
Heather and her mom walked into the kitchen. They decided that they needed to act quickly so they talked with grandma and hatched their plot. Early the next morning all three jumped into the car and headed to the local Home Depot. In less than thirty minutes they had found the perfect tree, an eight foot tall Douglas fir, replete with thick, sweet-smelling branches. They hauled the tree atop the SUV and brought it home. Alex and dad had already installed their tree in the living room. That did not deter the ladies from installing their freshly-cut tree in the dining room alcove. By the end of the day both trees stood proudly, one smelled of pine but the other did not!
When people came to visit that year, they were treated to two beautiful family trees. Most of them were at a loss for words; they refused to take sides in the debate over which was prettier, but the next year the new artificial tree quietly disappeared!
17 responses to “TALE OF TWO TREES”
teresarobeson
December 13th, 2013 at 18:51
After a live tree’s dropped needles almost killed my built-in vacuum one year, we, like Dad and Alex, opted for an artificial one…LOL! Good luck with your entry!
bamauthor
December 13th, 2013 at 19:51
Those needles can be deadly. Thanks for your good wishes.
Judy Pierce
December 13th, 2013 at 19:11
Cute story. Maybe next year they can add a small living tree that they can plant in the yard and then decorate with food for the birds and the squirrels, of course.
bamauthor
December 13th, 2013 at 19:50
That’s a great idea…
julie rowan zoch
December 14th, 2013 at 14:51
My mom has two trees too!
bamauthor
December 14th, 2013 at 15:01
Does she have multiple trees for the same reason?
julie rowan zoch
December 14th, 2013 at 15:08
She is a shopper and can’t pass up a good deal, and Dad has n’t the strength to stop her!
Michelle Heidenrich Barnes
December 14th, 2013 at 17:38
Nothing like a healthy dose of Christmas competition between family relations! Personally, I’m a firm believer in what mom wants, mom gets. 😉
bamauthor
December 14th, 2013 at 17:52
Moi aussi! ….couldn’t agree with you more. LOL
elainekielykearns
December 14th, 2013 at 17:45
What a great story! Good luck to you!
bamauthor
December 14th, 2013 at 17:53
I appreciate your writing….thanks so much!
Susanna Leonard Hill
December 14th, 2013 at 19:19
Hahaha, Barbara! Apparently you can’t trust a man to choose a tree 🙂 I love how the ladies won out in the end when the artificial tree “quietly disappeared” the next year 🙂 It’s all about patience 🙂 Thanks so much for your wonderful entry and for joining in the holiday contest fun!
bamauthor
December 14th, 2013 at 20:11
Thanks, Susanna. I am grateful for the opportunity to enter the contest. Yes, I do agree that, in general, women do hang in there because they have more patience.
cecilia clark
December 15th, 2013 at 14:10
ha ha ha ha ha delightful. poor boys don’t stand a chance against determined womenfolk. well done
bamauthor
December 15th, 2013 at 14:20
It appears that way, doesn’t it? Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Penny Parker Klostermann
December 15th, 2013 at 17:02
You can never have too many trees…LOL! I am glad the real tree won out, though! Hard to beat the smell! Cute entry, Barbara!
bamauthor
December 15th, 2013 at 18:06
Thank you, Penny. I agree with you 100%-that smell of fresh pine can’t be beat!