50.png

How TREE survived

TREE lived in a forest with lots of other trees. There were many different types of trees of all shapes and sizes. The sun and rain helped the trees grow taller and stronger.

Together they made shade for other plants. Many birds, small animals, and insects lived there too. It was a wonderful place!

TREE was very happy.

51.png

One day, TREE heard strange noises in the forest. They grew louder by the second ... Bang-bang! Clang-clang! Soon all the animals and birds started running and flying away. TREE could see other trees and plants being crushed by big metal machines!

There was nothing that TREE could do! TREE had never been so scared before! At last, the horrible noises stopped. Only a few trees had survived. But they were now so far away that TREE felt all alone.

52.png

Big, grey clouds grew in the sky. Strong, angry winds almost snapped TREE in half! All the trees that had helped TREE stand strong before were now gone! When would this storm end? TREE held on tightly to the ground with its roots.

53.png

Finally, the storm passed. The sun came out again. TREE had survived! But TREE was still very sad. "Why have so many bad things happened to me?" TREE cried. TREE was so sad, that all its leaves fell to the ground.

54.png

Then TREE became angry. It was so unfair! TREE hadn’t done anything wrong! TREE missed its friends and its home. Everything was different now! TREE felt like stomping its roots! And S-C-R-E-A-M-I-N-G!

55.png

But slowly, over time, TREE and the forest began to heal. Young trees started to grow. Birds and animals started coming back. It wasn’t the same as it had been before. But there was hope! TREE’S roots grew deeper into the ground. New branches grew taller out of TREE’s trunk.

TREE looked different and felt different but was much stronger! And most important of all ... TREE knew what to do the next time a big storm came. It was okay to be sad and to cry. TREE knew that new leaves and branches would grow again. Everything would be alright.