Leo Buscaglia - The Fall of Freddie the Leaf

Also by Leo Buscaglia:

Love
The Way of the Bull
Personhood
Living, Loving & Learning
Loving Each Other
Bus 9 to Paradise
Seven Stories of Christmas Love
A Memory for Tino
Papa, My Father
Born for Love
The Love Cookbook

Copyright 1982 by Leo F. Buscaglia, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the Publisher.

Library of Congress catalog number 81-86645

SLACK Incorporated ISBN: 978-1-61711-921-7

Published in the United States of America by:

SLACK Incorporated

6900 Grove Road

Thorofare, NJ 08086

Phone 1-856-848-1000

www.slackinc.com

For more information on other titles by Dr. Buscaglia: www.Buscaglia.com

20th Anniversary Edition

D edicated to all children who have ever suffered a permanent loss, and to the grownups who could not find a way to explain it.

This story is also dedicated to Ronald, Christina, Meredith, Stephanie and Julia, who are actively engaged in the spring of their lives.

A nd to Barbara Slack, my editor for the past 10 years, who will always be a most loved and valued leaf on my lifes tree.

S pring had passed.

So had Summer.

F reddie, the leaf, had grown large. His mid-section was wide and strong, and his five extensions were firm and pointed.

He had first appeared in Spring as a small sprout on a rather large branch near the top of a tall tree.

Freddie was surrounded by hundreds of other leaves just like himself, or so it seemed. Soon he discovered that no two leaves were alike, even though they were on the same tree. Alfred was the leaf next to him. Ben was the leaf on his right side, and Clare was the lovely leaf overhead. They had all grown up together. They had learned to dance in the Spring breezes, bask lazily in the Summer sun and wash off in the cooling rains.

But it was Daniel who was Freddies best friend. He was the largest leaf on the limb and seemed to have been there before anyone else. It appeared to Freddie that Daniel was also the wisest among them. It was Daniel who told them that they were part of a tree. It was Daniel who explained that they were growing in a public park. It was Daniel who told them that the tree had strong roots which were hidden in the ground below. He explained about the birds who came to sit on their branch and sing morning songs. He explained about the sun, the moon, the stars and the seasons.

Freddie loved being a leaf. He loved his branch, his light leafy friends, his place high in the sky, the wind that jostled him about, the sun rays that warmed him, the moon that covered him with soft, white shadows.

Summer had been especially nice. The long hot days felt good and the warm nights were peaceful and dreamy.

There were many people in the park that Summer. They often came and sat under Freddies tree. Daniel told him that giving shade was part of his purpose.

Whats a purpose? Freddie had asked.

A reason for being, Daniel had answered. To make things more pleasant for others is a reason for being. To make shade for old people who come to escape the heat of their homes is a reason for being. To provide a cool place for children to come and play. To fan with our leaves the picnickers who come to eat on checkered tablecloths. These are all reasons for being.

Freddie especially liked the old people. They sat so quietly on the cool grass and hardly ever moved. They talked in whispers of times past.

The children were fun, too, even though they sometimes tore holes in the bark of the tree or carved their names into it. Still, it was fun to watch them move so fast and to laugh so much.

But Freddies Summer soon passed.

It vanished on an October night. He had never felt it so cold. All the leaves shivered with the cold. They were coated with a thin layer of white which quickly melted and left them dew drenched and sparkling in the morning sun.

Again, it was Daniel who explained that they had experienced their first frost, the sign that it was Fall and that Winter would come soon.

A lmost at once, the whole tree, in fact, the whole park was transformed into a blaze of color. There was hardly a green leaf left. Alfred had turned a deep yellow. Ben had become a bright orange. Clare had become a blazing red, Daniel a deep purple and Freddie was red and gold and blue. How beautiful they all looked. Freddie and his friends had made their tree a rainbow.

Why did we turn different colors, Freddie asked, when we are on the same tree?

Each of us is different. We have had different experiences. We have faced the sun differently. We have cast shade differently. Why should we not have different colors? Daniel said matter-of-factly. Daniel told Freddie that this wonderful season was called Fall.

One day a very strange thing happened. The same breezes that, in the past, had made them dance began to push and pull at their stems, almost as if they were angry. This caused some of the leaves to be torn from their branches and swept up in the wind, tossed about and dropped softly to the ground.

All the leaves became frightened.

Whats happening? they asked each other in whispers.

Its what happens in Fall, Daniel told them. Its the time for leaves to change their home. Some people call it to die.

Will we all die? Freddie asked.

Yes, Daniel answered. Everything dies. No matter how big or small, how weak or strong. We first do our job. We experience the sun and the moon, the wind and the rain. We learn to dance and to laugh. Then we die.

I wont die! said Freddie with determination. Will you, Daniel?

Yes, answered Daniel, when its my time.

When is that? asked Freddie.

No one knows for sure, Daniel responded.

Freddie noticed that the other leaves continued to fall. He thought, It must be their time. He saw that some of the leaves lashed back at the wind before they fell, others simply let go and dropped quietly.

Soon the tree was almost bare.

Im afraid to die, Freddie told Daniel. I dont know whats down there.