The Evergreens

            A tree had fallen in the forest and in the space it left a young maple was growing. Winter was approaching and like every year, it wished its leaves would not crinkle and fall. For each broad leaf that fell, a shiver ran through the smooth trunk and into the roots. The other trees noticed and tried to console the maple, but nothing they said helped. Throughout winter it got a hollow look and heaved long sighs; the songbirds avoided its lonely limbs. To be an evergreen. Finally spring came, the snow melted and the maple lifted its head again.