Tuesday, March 18, 2014

The Tree


        “Looks can be deceiving.  You think it is a beautiful tree Poppet, but that tree has a horrifying history fertilized in hatred, bigotry, and blood.  As much as I try to forget, my heart forces me to remember for my dear brother Jeb.” 
  
         Startled, my curiosity was instantly piqued.  Grandma almost never mentioned the mysterious Jeb!  He was a subject that was usually brushed aside and taboo.   From that moment on, I was all ears.   Of course I already knew that this old house had been in the family for generations.  Her gaze followed mine as she scrutinized the tree which stood majestically in the clearing to the west.  Its intricate branches clawed at the orange afternoon sky.     A mixture of emotions crossed her features.  With a sigh her eyes clouded over.  She sank into her rocking chair and with resolve began to tell her story.

        “Back in the ‘60’s when I was a young girl; the civil rights movement was at its height.  Here in the south, most people didn’t take kindly to colored folk.   They were the help and beneath us.  It was thought white folk were superior in all things, and colored folk were expected to keep their place.  They were to use their own restrooms, stay on their own side of town, and weren’t expected to mingle…period.  My brother Jeb had different ideas.  Against better judgment, he became good friends with several colored families on the other side of town.  Honestly Jeb had such a kind heart.  He was such a gentle soul.  Although most loved him, most of our neighbors didn’t take kindly to his leanings.  He was warned to stop, but he didn’t.  Next thing we all knew, he had fallen in love with one of them.  Her name was Amanda.  She was a beautiful girl.  Still, I was shocked when I found out that he intended to run away with her.  He was determined to have her.  They were in love he said.

      One night, he snuck out to see her.  The only problem was the local clan got wind of it.  They followed poor Jeb and caught him and Amanda together before they could get away.  While we all slept, they tied Jeb and Amanda to that there tree and whipped them within the inch of their lives.  When dawn broke, the town awoke to discover them hung to death from the lowest branch, their blood tainting the bark a crimson red.   Every time I look at that tree, I can still see their bodies and blood splashed across its bark.   I remember vividly waking up that morning to blood curdling screams outside my window.  I was horrified by the sight.   After that, there wasn’t anyone black or white who wasn’t afraid.  Afraid because we all knew what the clan was capable of and even more afraid of it  happening again.  The police came and cut down my dear brother and his lover and their remains were claimed by their respective families to bury privately.  I bet you wonder if the Klan paid for what they did.  To my knowledge they didn’t. The whole thing was covered up.  It wasn’t spoken of, and wasn’t even in the news.   If you ask me, someone should have chopped down that devil tree and burned it instead of letting it remain and flourish after such evil had been carried out on its branches.”  She gripped the window sill as she finished her story, before wiping her eyes.


        Tears clouded my vision as I watched the tree’s branches blow in the breeze, catching the afternoon sun.  Looks certainly were deceiving.  Upon hearing the story, the tree’s branches seemed more sinister to me, their beauty of moments before fading in the unforgiving light of the horrifying truth.  







This is my response to Speakeasy’s weekly writing prompt, which is to write a piece in 750 words or less (mine is 632 words) (1) using “Looks can be deceiving."  as the first sentence, AND (2) make some sort of reference to the media prompt- a painting called Avond (Evening): The Red Tree by Dutch artist, Piet Mondrian.



44 comments:

  1. Oh, wow, Kathy, this story blew me away! You sure can write, my friend!

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    1. Martha, I am so pleased you liked it! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  2. This was an excellent use of the prompt. I was drawn into the story immediately and felt an array of emotions. I found your tale well written, and very moving.

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    1. Melissa, I am so pleased you liked my story! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  3. Great story Kathy! Love the imagery your words created...

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    1. Joe, I am so pleased you liked it! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  4. That's a wonderfully woven story narrated so well. This surely is one of your best stories, Kathy! Way to go! ♥

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    1. Shilpa, I am grinning ear to ear with your praise! Thank you so much for stopping by to read and for your lovely comments! ♥

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  5. This is terrific and you brought out the grandmother's emotions so nicely. This sad story is a winner for me.

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    1. Michelle, I am so pleased you enjoyed it! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  6. That was one beautiful written story! Way to go Kathy <3

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    1. Sheethal, I am so pleased you liked it! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  7. This was such a gr8 story...of a tale of love and a sad ending ... beautiful Kathy!

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    1. Nabanita, I am so pleased you enjoyed it. Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  8. A real bad time in America's history.... :( Great story Kathy!

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    1. JoJo, It really was and sadly things like this really went on back then. Thank you for stopping by to read my story and for your sweet comments! ♥ I am so pleased you liked it.

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  9. Great story indeed, may never quite look at branches the same way again

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    1. Pat, I am so pleased you enjoyed it! It is sad and horrific that things like this actually went on. Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  10. Wow. This was a beautiful, terrible story. How tragic and how sad to know that it was a story that could very well have taken place back then. You are a great storyteller.

    Blessings,
    Cheryl

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    1. cshowers, I am so pleased you liked it! Thank you so much for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  11. Beautiful blend of history, fiction, love and the prompt! Well done, Kathy!

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    1. Shailaja, I am so pleased you enjoyed it! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  12. What a sad story- even more disturbing in the fact that I'm sure similar stories really did play out like this. The last sentence is perfect - it would be hard to see the beauty after knowing the history.

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    1. jannatwrites, I am sure they did too. I am so pleased you enjoyed my story! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  13. oh my!!! what a tragic end ... the narration is gripping. Brilliantly written.

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    1. Rajlakshmi, I am so pleased you enjoyed it! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  14. Tragic end! The story took my breath away, Kathy. Heart pounding and glued me to the chair. Well done:)

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    1. vishalbheeroo, I am thrilled you enjoyed my story so much! Thank you so much for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  15. Every tree has a tale to tell, but this was very tragic Kathy, wonderful narration but too heavy with sadness... How hard it must be for the family, every glimpse of the tree bringing back horrifying memories...

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    1. Reshma, I am so pleased you enjoyed my story. Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  16. Isn't it interesting how a little glimpse of history can completely change our perspective? Very nicely done.

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    1. trudgingthroughfog, yes it is. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  17. Isn't life all about perspective? A story well told.

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    1. Michael, very true and it is our perspective that is the difference of whether it is good or bad. Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! I am so pleased you enjoyed my story! ♥

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  18. Your story reminded me a bit of the book 'The Help'.. also about coloured folks. What a long long way we've come.

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    1. tulika, I absolutely loved that movie and the book! It may have been where I drew my inspiration for this story. Thank you for stopping by and for your lovely comments! I am so pleased you enjoyed my story! ♥

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  19. How tragic... and sad. Especially because there probably were a ton of Jeb and Amanda's out there. :(
    Super enjoyable story!

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    1. Jen, I am so pleased you enjoyed my story! I have read a lot of books and seen a lot of movies based on this time period in our history and I would say you are right! Thank you for stopping by and for your lovely comments! ♥

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  20. A tragic love story set in turbulent times!How many lives sacrificed on such grounds?Racial discrimination -a sad fact.I liked the way you wove a piece of real history into this-very evocative Kathy:-)

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    1. Atreyee, I am so pleased you liked it! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  21. I love how you used the tree as something both beautiful and horrible depending on how much a character knew about its past. It ties the two prompts together. A really interesting take.

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    1. estheria, I am so pleased you enjoyed my take on the prompt. Thank you so much for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  22. Oh, what a horrible thing to have witnessed. It's hard to believe those times weren't all that long ago. Wonderful storytelling, Kathy. Great use of the prompts. :)

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    1. Suzanne, it really is hard to believe that dreadful things like that actually did go on. I am so pleased you enjoyed my story. Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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