“Take a picture,” the tree told me.
Resiliency
I walk pass this street almost every day. I always walk fast, even though I am never late for class.
I glance at every house, every building, every tree, every person sitting or walking. I am not sure what I am looking for. I just shoot a glance.
Yesterday, I heard a noise coming from above. I stopped and looked up.
“Take a picture,” the tree told me.
I had always felt a sense of suffocation in this block, a combination of the kind of people ruminating here and the kinds of offices that occupy the street, an extended branch of the corrosive government that has invaded and contamnated every space and which curiously is a graphic example of how they’ve done it. Former classy building representative of former prosperous bohemian times now under-used for offices that serve no purpose and contribute nothing. Pompous designation like Tesorería, Contraloría or Gerencia de Servicios identify some dilapidated doors and half-abandoned buildings.
Even the wind had trouble going through this block. It gets trapped in the branches and seem to bounce back against empty halls.
“Are you just gonna look?” the tree asked. “Take the damn picture!”
“Of course,” I said nervously and pulled my phone out of my pant’s pocket. I was impressed. I had not noticed how intense the struggle between this three and that building had been.
“Let me see,” the tree asked. I showed it the picture, not sure where to aim, where his eyes were. It seemed to see me with every part of its body.
“That’s a good shot,” it said. “Now, give them a message,” the tree commanded.
I could feel the pressure of the branches against the glass windows. I could hear the screeching sound of the branches pulling in and out against the glass. I could hear the cracking sound of the walls.
“Shoot,” I said and started to record.
“Tell them I did not ask for this. I will keep pushing because it is in my nature to grow. Tell them they’ll have to cut me to pieces now. They could have shaped me differently, veer my growth away from that building, but they’ve never cared about me or the building. Tell them I’ll find my way through.”
“I will,” I said, and kept walking without looking back.
I tried to play the video, but it was not there. I was probably too nervous and pushed the wrong bottom. So, I guess you’ll have to take my word for it. I am just the messenger.
Thanks for your reading
This was my entry to @mariannewest and @latino.romano’s 5 Minute Freewrite: Sunday Prompt: THAT’S A GOOD SHOT. You can see the details here.
Make sure you visit the Freewrite House!!!
