What was once a flourishing sapling of freshness, rebirth and growth, has now matured. Today it provides shade for the weak and comfort for the weary. It’s a toy for children and a depository for their pets. Its’ timeless branches have become so withered and drier by the passage of life that the richness of love and compassion has ceased to flow. Far from hollow, yet so empty of life, this matriarch is a marker of time, but lost has its’ meaning.

With branches unfurled, it stretches out to the heavens. Its’ trunk, massive and strong, is a symbol of accomplishment and dedication. Its’ leaves are adornments fit for only the most majestic. Its’ roots are not just in the earth, but are of the earth. It draws from the soil, as a child from a mother. Also as a child, it honors its’ donor.

Talk of removal has been bantered around. Many feel it would be better for this little town to have a field where children could play. Some dream of a grassy plain where sunners could lay. Others say they have had thoughts of the wood and what they might build if they could. Yet others thought of a business or shop. One wanted to sell donuts on that very spot and another wanted to pave for a parking lot.

At the town hall meeting called for the tree everyone was buzzing of things that could be. All stood at their turn and told of their wishes, some with numbers, some with models and others with pictures. Near the end of the evening, there was one left to speak when she stood to the mic trembling and weak. Her voice was clear and well heard by all when she spoke the words that made some there feel small.

She said, "I’m old and weary and not worth a damn. I’ve lost my teeth and my hair has fallen out. My eye are failing, I can’t think very clear and my children haven’t called or came by for years." "Is my time over," she asked of the board. "Is this where it ends, here or at the morgue?" "My life is more worthless than this withering sprout. So I’m here to ask you to help me out." "Mark me off the city roles. Just count me out and put me in a hole. Don’t look back on what my life has been, just mark me off and let someone worthy step in."

Silence crept its way around the room as she stood defiantly watching their every move. The chairperson was the first to speak when he called for the lady to take her seat. Others in the crowd shuffled around, but most just sat facing the ground. "Its’ clear what has happened here," a board member said, "This woman was brought here to mess with our heads." "I’ve never seen her before and I’ve lived here for years. Maybe she’s a grandmother, but let’s not lose sight of why everyone’s here." A voice from the crowd said, "She’s the only one speaking out, majority rule is what our country is about."

"So be it," called the chairman of the board, "we’ll take bids tomorrow for removal of this eye sore." "I decree this issue settled and our business here done. I think we all understand that progress has won."