The Yeti Tree
Sitting quietly on the side of the hill Evermore looked around, branches rustling restlessly in the wind. The snow had come early and was very deep. Other trees had trunks buried at least two feet deep, but he was sheltered, caught up against a tall older tree and blocked behind many grandtrees that had gone to the great tree garden in the sky.
Mother Nature was fickle today, at first gently tossing fat snowflakes into the sky and then moving clouds to show tiny patches of blue sky and sunlight. He loved the sunlight best and thought it wonderful when she decided to sprinkle snowflakes and sun at the same time. The flakes would sparkle and shine in the golden rays, almost as if it were snowing brilliant jewels. Evermore sighed watching the clouds hide the blue. The woods rustled differently this time of year. Despite the snow and cold, people would come, braving the drifts and ice, scaling mountains and searching for the perfect tree. Many of his friends scoffed at this tradition; people coming to choose trees to celebrate Christmas. Of course they all knew about Christmas. The story of the birth of baby Jesus had been passed down for longer than his great, great, great grandtrees had been alive and many of the trees had seen Jesus stroll these very forests, especially when someone was scared or lost.
Santa Claus had also taken his place in stories whispered through the branches. Many years, he personally had seen the sleigh racing through the night sky, the sound of sleigh bells warming the hearts of even the scraggliest, crankiest trees. Sometimes he would land at the top of the hill, giving his reindeer a rest. His jolly voice would call to the animals, always bringing a fun treat for them to enjoy.
It was a beautiful time of year, but also a sad time for Evermore. Year after year he heard the cars, the voices, the laughter. Families, friends and dogs would traipse through the forest, darting from tree to tree looking at branches, touching needles and deciding which tree to take home. Some of his friends would move branches and droop as they didn't want to be a Christmas tree, but Evermore knew deep in his bark he was meant to be a Christmas tree. Unfortunately he was not the perfect tree and year after year they would pass him. Of course he understood, his branches were overly large and awkward on the bottom, spindly and skinny on the top. Not to mention many years ago the Yeti had come through looking for boughs to build a new nest. He had chosen Evermore's branches which meant his entire backside was naked. Not a single branch remained. This year was even worse, the snow, the slant of the hill and all of the fallen grandtrees meant he was almost completely hidden. He sighed again, branches brushing the snow.
It was a busy weekend. Evermore had heard many people come through, some close to where he sat, others far away. Even if he wasn't chosen it made him smile to hear the joy and laughter. It seemed when they came through the woods, people forgot their troubles, their happiness touching each of the trees and animals that called the forest home.
Hearing people draw close he swayed to get a better look. It was a family of four, a mom, dad and two older boys. They laughed as with each step the snow gobbled their legs up. The mom was leading the way, breaking trail and laughing as she tried to carry their little dog and manuever up the hill. Evermore quivered, they were actually going up the hill, closer to him than any other people had been all season. They passed just below him, but he continued to peek through branches watching them. He knew they were looking for trees, but they spent time sawing through snow, breaking chunks out and tossing them at each other. They jumped in the snow, dove in the snow and sat in the snow. Happiness tingled up Evermore's trunk as he could feel the pure delight exuding from them.
They continued on and Evermore, heard their voices bouncing on the breeze suggesting they were at the top of the hill. Moving his branches he heard the words that made his bark ache. "I found one here guys, what do you think?" A few minutes later "timber" rode the wind. Although sad he missed another chance, he decided to focus on the excitement they projected into the air. It made him almost as warm as a summer day. The conversations made him smile; discussions on how to get the trees out, which path to follow, who would carry the tree. He liked this family.
Evermore's needles began to tingle as he heard them just above him.
"Do you have the other tree marked."
"Yea, the one I wanted is right there, but I want to check down here."
He could hear the mom; snow crunching, chuckles, groans as she negotiated the steep mountainside and the deep snow. Her boys were above her, laughing and questioning what she was doing. As she got closer Evermore couldn't help but feel the smallest glimmer of hope. He knew he was hidden and out of sight, but what if? He felt the cold tickle of snow brush his bare back as she slid close and he heard, "Oh, there he is." In an instant she was in front of him, brushing snow off his branches, feeling his needles and looking at him from all sides as best she could in his little alcove. The mom looked at his bare back, and Evermore held his breath, knowing that was probably a deal breaker.
It was almost as if she was talking directly to him, "That doesn't matter, that side will be to the wall where nobody see's it anyway." He couldn't be hearing her right, could he? Was she actually choosing him?
"Guys, this is the one. Austin are you going to come down to cut him?"
His trunk warmed and his branches wiggled. He was going to be a Christmas tree. The dad stayed at the top of the hill and the mom and boys took pictures smiling and talking about him.
When they called "timber" Evermore knew he was on his way.
Lifting him up, they took him to the top of the hill and he was in awe. The whiteness went everywhere and the blue sky was endless. He saw another tree they had chosen and they began the journey back down the hill in a much less tangled spot. Evermore was so excited he kept trying to beat the son down the hill, sliding to be parallel with him. The family didn't mind, they simply laughed and moved him.
Evermore's excitement couldn't be contained. When the dad tried to put him on the roof of the car he kept right on rolling off the top and down the other side. They picked him back up and finally he was snugged on with his new friend, ready for the next adventure.
The family piled in and they were off. The joy coursing through his branches was indescribable. Wind shook his needles like never before and he could see forever; blue sky, cars, people, trees, deer, antelope. This had to be how the birds felt when they flew.
When the car stopped for good, they were both taken off the roof and put in a garage. The mom got out a tape measure and walked around, measuring both of them and looking at them up and down. His branches wiggled slightly when she decided he was going to be the upstairs tree. Carrying him in, Evermore sighed, it was warm and cozy with lights and decorations everywhere. He could see where he would be in a corner of honor. The family worked together and Evermore was settled into his stand. His bark dropped just slightly when they realized he wasn't going to stand on his own, his bare side made him unbalanced. Oh how he hoped they wouldn't get rid of him. He listened as they talked about what to do and how a Yeti must have taken a big bite out of him. How did they know? Working together they trimmed some of his branches and then gave him a little support with a string and the wall.
Evermore knew he was with the right family when they talked about previous trees that had been theirs, tying them to the walls, using shims to keep them straight and how every year their tree was special.
It was difficult to stay still as the family gave him a drink of warm water with a little sugar in it and then began to decorate him. The lights were bright and warm nestled in between his needles. Each ornament tickled slightly as it was hung on his boughs, but he smiled listening to the story that came with the ornament.
The final touch was a beautiful lady in yellow at the very top. He truly felt like the perfect tree.
The family turned all the lights off, except his and a few other Christmas lights. Evermore stood tall as they made noises about the perfect tree, even with the Yeti bite.
The boys all snuggled into chairs and couches just looking at him and the mom and little dog crawled underneath the branches. Looking up through the branches the mom said, "You are the perfect tree." as she drifted off to sleep.
