Fowler - T is for Tree

When Grandma Daisy went into the kitchen to get a coffee, she found to her surprise a full breakfast already laid out for her. There, in the middle of the table, was a perfect stack of pancakes with a bottle of maple syrup just begging to be tipped over it. Next to that was a big glass of orange juice, freshly squeezed, just the way she liked it. Just the way she and Eddy used to have it on special occasions.

And resting on top of that stack of mouth-watering pancakes was a folded piece of paper. Her curiosity well and truly sparked, she stepped over, picked the paper off the stack and reached for her reading glasses with a smile. He was such a good boy, doing something like this for her. Especially after all those years shed been so horrid to him. If ever there was a lesson in the power of forgiveness, Eddy showed the way.

Unfolding the piece of paper, she read the single sentence in a heartbeat. And a heartbeat was about right too, because thats right where it touched.

Ill be there to hold your other hand, Grandma.

At about the same time Grandma Daisy was coming to terms with a certain note shed found downstairs, Reagan woke up to a brand new day. There was something different, so very different that at first she couldnt identify it.

She actually wondered if shed died. The idea that theyd receive her in a familiar place made sense. It would certainly ease the shock. She even wondered how Eddy would take her passing on. Would she be able to look down on him and watch his life unfold. She hoped so.

But everything seemed so real, so as it should be. The only thing that was missing was... the pain. Yes, the pain was gone. Completely gone.

Something wonderful had happened overnight. Double-checking reality by feeling the sheets beneath her fingers, she breathed in a deep, long lungful of fresh air. It was then that she realised her other arm was cold.

What the ... ? How did the bed get over here?

Pulling her hand back in from where it had been resting on one of the tree branches, she was just about to call out, to let the world know she was back, when she heard something crinkle at her side. She came close to ignoring it completely. Picking it up, she suddenly realised what it was. It was a wrapped lunch. Yes, it was. Pulling back one of the folded flaps, she found two huge sandwiches in there, both of them dripping full with strawberry jam her favourite.

It was only then that she noticed the familiar, scrawling handwriting on the top of the paper. Three simple words.

I owed you.

Eddys funeral was a sad affair. No one had expected this, least of all the close-knit community of Willow Close. And they all understood the reason for that closeness a special little boy. A boy who was too good for this world. A boy who had changed them all in such a way they could never be the same again.

Among the gathered that day were two boys. Of course Grandma Daisy hadnt thought to invite them, but when theyd shown up on her doorstep that day, all dressed up in their finest, she couldnt turn them away. Eddy wouldve wanted it this way.

Nathan and Dion kept to themselves; barely a word was said between them, let alone to anyone else. A life lesson was setting in on them, the likes of which they would never forget.

Grandma Daisy insisted on having the wake back at the house. Everyone offered to take on the workload of setting up the food and drink, but, while she accepted the kind offerings of a plate here and there, she was determined this was her duty. It was just something she had to do, no rhyme nor reason, just a need.

But there was another purpose for it. One she wouldnt tell them until they all found out for themselves. Another miracle in Willow Avenue.

When the service was over and done, when the tears were put on hold for Eddys sake, and when the memories unfolded in a room full of gentle smiles and jam sandwiches, Grandma Daisy tapped a spoon against her glass.

Excuse me, everybody, she said as people turned to face her. Theres something I need to show you all. I could try and explain it to you but I just couldnt do it justice. Holding back the tears with a swallow of her throat, Grandma Daisy continued. We all know just how special our Eddy was. Grandma Daisy noticed how almost everybody in the room glanced across at Reagan, the person whose funeral, all money suggested, would have been today. Their miracle girl. Well, hes left us something to remember him by, something wonderful. Follow me.

With that, Grandma Daisy turned and walked up the stairs. The entire lounge full of people filed up behind her, silent and curious, not knowing what to expect. They followed her along the hallway, down to the end, where a closed door marked the place where Eddy Sullivan had lived most of his life. A room where, for over half of his life, he was only allowed to leave to go to the bathroom. A room from where he watched the world pass him by. But that was wrong, most of them in that hallway knew that now. Eddy Sullivan hadnt been trying to catch up with the world. No, it was the other way around: the world was trying to catch up with him.

With one easy swoop, Grandma Daisy turned the handle and pushed the door wide open. And behind that door was the most amazing sight you could ever hope to see. Mr Tree was decorated in such a glorious coat of blossoms that the whole bedroom seemed to shine. The full circle they went, across every wall and the length of the ceiling so that walking into the room was like walking into natures cathedral.

The people filed in until they filled the room. Not a word was said. Grandma Daisy had been right: this was too great for words. But in the end it was Reagan who managed to sum it up best.

Its perfect.

Reagan was the first one to notice the stone. A big, green one resting against the base of Mr Tree. It definitely hadnt been there before.

What she didnt know was that Mrs Elsdon had lugged that thing all the way from her backyard to this very spot. It had taken a mighty effort, especially for an old lady with a failing hip, but shed been resolute throughout. This was where it belonged now.

She continued her daily stroll through the neighbourhood and, more often than not, still stopped in front of a certain house and a certain front window. It was hard to look up there and not see him any more. As hard as not having Ben.

So she started something that continues to this day. She began placing notes under that green stone. Notes of prayer, of love, of well wishes and hopes. Before too long, others caught on too. It was the strangest thing. No matter how many notes were stuck under that rock they never seemed to overflow. It was like the tree took them in. It took them to a place where the light was white and the answers were clear.

It became known as Eddys Tree or sometimes even the Wishing Tree, and there was hardly a day went by without somebody standing in front of it. A lot of the time it was Reagan. It was the place where she spoke to him, where she never forgot him.

She didnt know it yet, but she was going to have the most remarkable of lives. Some would say she already had, but she was only just getting on for the ride.

And, dotted within that wonderful existence, would come three precious children to a wonderful, caring husband. The sort of man Eddy would have approved of. The first child would be a boy... and his name would be Eddy.

One fine day, six months after Eddy had offered up his life, there came a knock at Grandma Daisys door. She hadnt been expecting anyone so she answered it without expectation.

There, standing proudly on her front doorstep, was a lady and two children. The lady, obviously the mother, had a gentle hand resting on each childs shoulder, as though showing them off for Grandmas benefit.