Hunter Murphy
Grade 7
Fiction
The Whispering Tree
Long ago, in Bethlehem, a tree was planted. It was planted by three men, and three women, each a different race. Each piled in part of the soil onto the newly born tree. In ten years, it will be thriving with every kind of fruit imaginable. In ten years, each of the planters will have been on their way to a different place. A new land, a new life. But, part of each of them was implanted into that tree. Twenty years later, the tree will continue to drop happiness on every hungry child, indulging on sweetness. By now, all the planters will have forgotten about each other, but not the tree. Thirty years later, the tree would continue to create sweet fruits, except for the few that turned out rotten. Rotten ones will roll into the lake, forgotten forever. Thirty years later, each planter will have met more friends, have no more knowledge of the planters or the tree. Forty years later, the tree would only produce rotten fruit. The town’s kids would taste the bitter taste of emptiness. Suddenly, each of the planters will have made their way back to Bethlehem. All of them coming to the tree. Each of them will have a feeling of emptiness and sadness. Wondering who these people are, asking. Reuniting with each other, they kneel and think about how they could have possibly forgotten each other. Now, all of the men and women, each of different races, hold hands, and the tree came to realize that no one can be forgotten about. Holding the tree, each one of them changes their gloomy mood. Instantaneously, the tree grows golden brown branches of spirit, coming out of each of the people, into the tree. The tree starts to loom overhead of them after they open their eyes. Now, each of them hugging and crying with happiness, the tree started to make more delicious fruit. Fifty years later, each of the planters, barely standing, lay down in a circular pattern close together facing the tree. One by one, they each go to meet one's maker. The tree, more golden than ever, makes branches to cover each one of the planters. Now, the tree would always thrive with fruit. For centuries and centuries until forever. Now, on top of a hill in Bethlehem, lay the six planters. And on top of the hill, lay The Whispering Tree.
Grade 7
Fiction
The Whispering Tree
Long ago, in Bethlehem, a tree was planted. It was planted by three men, and three women, each a different race. Each piled in part of the soil onto the newly born tree. In ten years, it will be thriving with every kind of fruit imaginable. In ten years, each of the planters will have been on their way to a different place. A new land, a new life. But, part of each of them was implanted into that tree. Twenty years later, the tree will continue to drop happiness on every hungry child, indulging on sweetness. By now, all the planters will have forgotten about each other, but not the tree. Thirty years later, the tree would continue to create sweet fruits, except for the few that turned out rotten. Rotten ones will roll into the lake, forgotten forever. Thirty years later, each planter will have met more friends, have no more knowledge of the planters or the tree. Forty years later, the tree would only produce rotten fruit. The town’s kids would taste the bitter taste of emptiness. Suddenly, each of the planters will have made their way back to Bethlehem. All of them coming to the tree. Each of them will have a feeling of emptiness and sadness. Wondering who these people are, asking. Reuniting with each other, they kneel and think about how they could have possibly forgotten each other. Now, all of the men and women, each of different races, hold hands, and the tree came to realize that no one can be forgotten about. Holding the tree, each one of them changes their gloomy mood. Instantaneously, the tree grows golden brown branches of spirit, coming out of each of the people, into the tree. The tree starts to loom overhead of them after they open their eyes. Now, each of them hugging and crying with happiness, the tree started to make more delicious fruit. Fifty years later, each of the planters, barely standing, lay down in a circular pattern close together facing the tree. One by one, they each go to meet one's maker. The tree, more golden than ever, makes branches to cover each one of the planters. Now, the tree would always thrive with fruit. For centuries and centuries until forever. Now, on top of a hill in Bethlehem, lay the six planters. And on top of the hill, lay The Whispering Tree.