Sally’s Tree

There used to be two trees in our garden. Mine was the big one because I’m older. You’re Sally’s tree and we don’t know why you never grew big, but I think it’s because she’s always crying and that made you sad so you didn’t grow. Dad laughed and mum said ‘don’t be mean to your sister’ but it’s not mean, it’s true. She’s always crying because of nothing. I’m right, aren’t I? That’s why you didn’t grow big.

My tree was magic. It didn’t have any leaves but instead the trunk became branches, and the branches became twigs and the twigs got smaller and smaller until they were green. Dad said the green bits were the leaves but he’s wrong. They were huge and flat and looked like mini trees and smelled of cinnamon. There used to be a friendly goblin living in my tree. Did you ever see him? His name was Alfred and he liked to eat the crusts off my sandwiches.

One day, men came. Mum and dad said my tree was very sick and they would have to cut it down. I screamed and shouted and cried but I couldn’t save it. I heard Alfred calling me but dad was holding me and then the men were sawing with a chainsaw which was too loud and made me cough. My tree groaned as it fell. I don’t know what happened to Alfred, but I think he was squashed. The men used the chainsaw to cut up my tree. They took it away and now there’s just a stump. I wished they’d cut you down instead, Sally’s tree. She stayed in her room the whole time. I don’t wish that anymore. I’m sorry.

My tree wasn’t sick. My tree was strong and healthy. We had a funeral, like when grandpa died. Dad said something but I was crying so I wasn’t listening. I was kneeling in front of the stump and I thought about Alfred. I hoped he would stick his head out of the bushes so I would know that he was okay, but he didn’t. He was squashed. I couldn’t do anything, I couldn’t. Dad was holding me.

After the funeral, I got up and came here. I grabbed one of your branches and broke it off. Then another. Sally shouted at me to stop and dad picked me up and I was screaming and crying. It was all his fault. The men had cut down my tree and Alfred was squashed and he let them.

I didn’t have to go to school for two days. Then I felt better, but it took forever. Mum and dad were very sad so I forgave them for cutting down my tree.

I went to school today. When I came home, they made me sit down in the kitchen. I thought I was in trouble, but I wasn’t. They said Sally was in the hospital and I had to be brave. They said a babysitter would look after me this afternoon because they had to go be with Sally.

The babysitter is sitting on the stump of my tree. I don’t want to talk to her so I’m sitting here with you. I’m sorry I pulled off your branches. Please don’t be mad. I’ve brought the hose to water you so maybe if you get better, Sally will get better too.