By Virginia Amis
The girl collapsed on the soft earth between the bumpy roots of the oak tree. Smoky haze choked her lungs. Around her, branches crashed to the ground, sending out sparks like fireflies.
“I’m here,” she said, watching flames draw nearer to the initials she and Papa had carved into the trunk before he died.
Voices shouted her name. She looked toward them, and back at their tree. She could not leave Papa!
Suddenly, one after another, fat acorns fell, bouncing all around her. She knew it was Papa speaking. Kissing his initials, she quickly gathered them and ran for her life.
Is this a story about a woman who has been sexually abused by her father and is so emotionally messed up by it that she loved, and still loves him, in an abnormal way. As far as I know, lovers in the USA in 1950’s and 1960’s carved their initials in trees to announce their love, not fathers and daughters. The “bumpy roots” seem to express a problem in her tree of life. The fire drew her to the tree the way abuse draws women to abusers. The fire signifies the end to the abnormal relationship until the acorns are introduced. To me they seem to indicate she wants this type of relationship in her mind to continue, by risking injury to gather acorns to grow more trees to symbolize their love. Was that a twist to the story? I may have just answered my own questions. Great symbolism in a great story. It made me reread and think.
Susan,
What incredibly insightful comments! Thank you for taking the time for such a detailed review.
My goal is always to respect the reader’s interpretations and meaning behind my work. You have honored me by expressing yours.
Virginia
Your strong and powerful images had me seeing the character and feeling her emotions so clearly. Powerful piece.
Just 101 compelling words that speak of symbolsim, courage and redemption. It made me pause and think.
Bravo! Well done!
diane
Virginia, I loved the rich details of this piece: “bumpy roots of the oak tree”, “sending out sparks like fireflies”. Coincidentally this struck a chord with me as I’ve recently submitted a short piece to another publication all about an oak tree. I guess we’re just drawn to their symbolism.
Vivid descriptions of this brief moment in time drew me right into the story!
In my mind’s eye, I could clearly see a girl in trouble seeking a familiar touch stone in her life while the flames chase her. The tree offers a temporary respite from danger if only to offer the girl a few moments to reflect upon a time – a world – that will soon be destroyed. The acorns seem to confirm the reality of her memories while gently assuring her its time to go. This is truly a captivating story rich with opportunities to interpret .