The Tree

A Real-Life Macabre Monday Story

There’s a tree that sits in my back yard. I don’t know how long it has been there, but by the looks of it, I’m guessing a long time.

The tree has a history with humans, and you can see the evidence of that a few places. It seems to have been cropped or pruned a few times over the years. A dog’s leash melts into the fabric of the tree. Maybe kids swung from an old tire or swing once upon a time, but I don’t know the full history—only the last five years or so.

As we get a little closer, we see more detail in the bark—the skin of the tree—and inside the little nooks and crannies. Animals have taken refuge in this landmark for generations, some building little networks inside.