Tree Lady
description
Transcript of Tree Lady
Tree lady
By Yu-Ju Chen By Yu-Ju Chen
1
Tree lady
1
Tree lady
Words Checked: 4551
Words in Oxford 3000: 94%
2
Tree lady
Content
Introduction: Main Characters P.4
Author’s Page P.6
Chapter one: The peaceful forest P.7
Chapter two: The variables P.13
Chapter three: The deal P.24
Chapter four: Pay the price P.30
Chapter five: The legend P.39
3
Tree lady
Main Characters
Tracy (Scorpio): A tree with clear human loves and hates.
She would sacrifice her life for love. Her brave is stupid and
also smart.
The prince (Aquarius): A man whose mother is strict to him
and couldn’t decide his own faith is also pathetic.
Chirpy (Cancer): A bird and also is Tracy’s friend who is a
sense of justice.
The princess (Gemini): A real woman and wife of the prince
who was born in wealthy family and well-educated. She is
jealous and afraid of losing her position in the prince’s mind.
4
Tree lady
The queen (Taurus): The prince’s mother with strong will and
hope in her son since the king is dead.
5
Tree lady
About the Author
Yu-Ju Chen is a fourth grade student
in college school. She knows the moral standards are the
most important education in everyone’s childhood. “Tree
lady” is her first novel and the only one without criticizes.
Although Yu-Ju Chen didn’t criticize in this story, she made
not a few of irony in telling human beings. She sees inside
human beings and always observes them accurately. As a
college student in Wenzao, she always has positive thinking
and cheers other classmates up all the time. We could expect
her to write more about this inspiring and teachable novel.
6
Tree lady
Chapter one:The peaceful forest
‘Trace…’
Silence.
There is a thick, dark cloud right above the Black Forest.
About four miles outside Black Forest to where a towering
shining palace built cover on cupper. Although it was in
the middle of the night, the moonlight spread out on the
castle and reflected on the Black forest to light the all place up.
‘Trace…’ said an old tree in the forest. A few minutes later,
a crispy voice broke the silence on the cool night. ‘Yes,
daddy…What do you need? Are you feeling
7
Tree lady
8
uncomfortable?’ said her daughter Tracy. ‘No…I feel
excellent. But I cannot sleep without telling you something.
Would you listen to me?’ ‘Of course, but what is so urgent
that you must tell me at night?’ wondered Trace. ‘Tracy, my
sensitive darling, do you know what kind of position I as your
father had taken in Black Forest?’ ‘ a mediator,’ answered
Trace. ‘Excellent! And what as a mediator should do and
shouldn’t do?’ questioned the old tree. ‘When we judge
troubles, we shouldn’t mix our feelings in,’ replied Trace.
‘You are really learning. I am so proud of you,’
‘Daddy…Time for bed,’ yawning Trace. ‘Ok…by the way,
let me remind you…,’ ‘Daddy, I want to sleep…’ replied
Tree lady
Trace. Then, Trace put herself to sleep again.
9
Sun was shining on Black Forest. Everything turns
bright and fresh. The yellow leaves were falling when the
wind blew. Trace suddenly realized that her father had been
eaten throughout the night by white ants and he had passed
away. All her father’s friends were gathering around and
praying for him. Trace recalled her childhood with her
father laughing about the little squirrel falling down from
father’s arms, crying for somebody carving words on Trace’s
skin which hurt her painfully, and now those little things
turned into a huge needle stinging Trace’s heart. However,
she didn’t and couldn’t have tears. She must obey what her
Tree lady
father had told her and all the expectations are to be like her
father. She looked strong, brave and cheerful someway,
somehow. But, she showed her sadness and cried only when
she heard snoring deep in peaceful night. Trace’s best friend,
Chirpy, knew her well and always encouraged Trace to show
sad feelings out and forget about the self-esteem of being a
strong tree. Trace had also tried hard but she had failed.
10
Birds were still singing on the branches, and squirrels were
running on Trace’s arms. Trace laughed, listened to the
complaints, and also made jokes to please all the animals as
usual. She almost could hear her heart breaking because she
was not happy deep inside. Trace looked fine outside and
Tree lady
11
so cheerful that only Chirpy knew Trace was pretending.
Suddenly, everybody heard crying from a short distance
outside the forest. Somebody was running toward Trace and
stepping on those crispy leaves making loud sounds. ‘How
could it be possible…,’ cried the woman. The lady kicked
the heavy roots on the grass and helplessly fell down on Trace’s
trunks. At this moment, a horse’s steps had got closer and
closer with a man’s low voice shouting ‘Elena! Elena!’ The
lady hid behind Trace’s huge body and on a sudden, the sound
in the air became still again. Trace looked at that man
carefully for she had been startled by the man’s appearance.
The woman hid still behind Trace and breathed quietly.
Tree lady
12
‘Elena? That was so strange, I saw her running this way,’
glancing around again. ‘Ok, that’s go. Maybe I saw the
wrong person!’ He turned back to the palace side and shouted
again ‘Elena… Elena…’ The woman cried out and broke
the silence through the forest. All of the animals
disappeared as usual when human beings walked into the
forest. The crying woman suddenly started sobbing and
walked away from Trace. She murmured something that all
the animals in the forest couldn’t understand. That night,
Trace recalled what she had seen in the morning; a man with a
golden shining suit, blond hair, blue eyes, and in a very special
attitude. ‘What am I thinking about? He is handsome
Tree lady
indeed, but…’ observed Trace. She always looked inside
herself to make sure what her thought wasn’t wrong. From
she had seen him, she became happier then ever. She seemed
had forgotten about the sadness around her lately. Trace was
happy again. Chirpy was also happy for her, but didn’t know
what the reasons were.
Chapter two:The variables
There once was a rumor in the forest called “The laws
of Forbidden.” The rumor was about the rules in the Black
Forest. A creature in the forest once broke the rules:‘Don’t
be what human beings are, be yourself and stay in your own
13
Tree lady
position in the forest. If you don’t, the
punishment will be very serious. Do not
even try!’ listed in “The Bible of Black
Forest” Trace remembered what her Daddy had taught her and
warned her. She couldn’t stop thinking about him; the man.
She wanted to ask him some questions like “What’s your
name?” or “What do you like to do?” Trace wanted to know
everything about that handsome man. Chirpy flew to Trace’s
arms and questioned her about the reason of happiness lately.
‘What are you laughing for?’ wondered Chirpy. ‘Am I? You
don’t want me to be happy, do you?’ smiled Trace bashfully.
‘Could you tell me what is happening to you?’ ‘No…, I am
14
Tree lady
15
afraid of something bad,’ Trace said considerately. Chirpy
gave her an annoyed looking and flew away. ‘Hey…don’t go,
please. Ok…, I will tell you everything,’ begged Trace.
Chirpy flew back to her branches and listened to her best
friend tell her the secret. ‘But you have to guarantee not to
tell anyone this,’ ‘Of course, I won’t. What is it?’ Chirpy put
her hands under her cheeks waiting for Trace’s confess. “I
think I have fallen in love with a man…,’ ‘Is this real or have
you just made this up to fool me? You should know what a
tree should do and realize the rules in this forest,’ asked Chirpy.
‘Yes, that is why I couldn’t tell anybody about this. But the
more I hide it, the more I feel pain,’ cried Trace loudly. Both
Tree lady
16
Trace and Chirpy didn’t know the secret has been
eavesdropped on another bird: Chirpy’s Mother. That night,
when Chirpy went home, her mother was sitting in the middle
of the nest. ‘Where have you been? I have something to
remind you. Sit down, baby.’ said her mother in a strict but
gentle voice. ‘Yes, mom,’ ‘my dear, do you know we have a
very serious punishment for those who don’t behave
themselves well in the forest,’ ‘Yes, mom,’ ‘And, do you know
how your father died?’ Chirpy’s mom didn’t stare at Chirpy.
‘He was trying to fly over the forest and lived in another place,
and had behaved himself not well and tried to disobey the
『rules』,’ said Chirpy calmly. ‘Let me remind you again:
Tree lady
Don’t even think about breaking the rules for you are the only
baby I have. I don’t want to lose you…,’ Chirpy’s mother
sounded tired, but Chirpy didn’t know with her mother for
telling her truth.
17
The next day, Chirpy didn’t want to go find Trace.
Chirpy didn’t want to talk about this secret in day time. It was
the right time for someone to hear the secret and talk it out.
Chirpy felt the atmosphere was strange this morning in the
forest. All of the animals were gone, therefore the forest was
silent and the creepiest thing was her mother didn’t wake her
up until noon. She flew for almost two miles around the
forest, but couldn’t find where her mother was. She then
Tree lady
18
flew forward to find her best friend, Trace. Almost one mile
close Trace, Chirpy saw a black spot on the ground circling a
tree, and was startled by recognizing her
friend, Trace, was the tree standing in the
middle of those animals. Chirpy got some
ideals in minds. ‘You can not do that,’ said one in the
crowd. ‘You must leave! Shame on you and your father.’
scolded by an old squirrel. To the matter of fact, Trace is a
tree. She could not walk away. If she were a tree, she
would leave right now. However, Trace didn’t cry. She
ignored what people were saying. At all sudden, the church
bell was ringing. It was just like thunder splashing in Tracy’s
Tree lady
19
mind. She wanted to be a real woman and ran away now.
The crowds who were scolding at Trace suddenly turned their
face toward the church. They could see a couple stepping
out of the church smiling happily. Trace admired that girl so
much. How she wanted to be a human and marry to
someone who deeply in loved with her! The couple
walked toward Trace. Trace recognized that woman was the
girl running and crying in the forest and the groom was that
one Trace dreamed of day and night. She felt disappointed
and could not cry in front of everybody because she knew that
would not be a good idea. If she were a human, a real
woman, she would compete with that girl who is armed that
Tree lady
20
groom right now. She was totally lost and did not even try
to do something. She hated herself for doing nothing active
and even felt sad for the crying girl who now was a happy
bride and armed the man she loved. She swallowed her tears
and faced everybody’s scolds. This dim night, she begged
Chirpy to find a witch, because Trace wanted to be a ‘real
woman.’ Obviously, she did not care about the rules. Chirpy
hesitated, ‘Why? I do not think it is a good idea. You will be
a big gossip and I will be blamed.’ ‘Do you want to help me?
I still want to be your friend, but I am afraid I have no
choices,’ ‘As a friend, I should do the best for you. Tell me
what I should do?’ ‘Go find the witch! I want my true love.’
Tree lady
Trace could not stand it anymore and tears went out. Chirpy
flew to a witch and asked her if an animal or plant could
become a human. After the witch understood what Chirpy
meant, she warned it was risky if an animal did not find true
love, it might turn back to what it was or become dust
disappearing in the air. ‘Follow me, please.’ Chirpy lead the
witch to where Trace was. ‘Are you
ready?’ asked the witch. ‘Yes!
Absolutely,’ answered Trace. The witch murmured some
words and took out a bottle of medicine. ‘Can I be a maid
serving you when you are a human?’ asked Chirpy. ‘Chirpy…
Are you going to be with me? Oh…you are such a good
21
Tree lady
friend.’ ‘What as friends for..., as my mom, I am sure she
would be proud of me being a friend of yours,’ said Chirpy.
The witch sprayed green medicine on Trace’s trunk on the
ground and let Chirpy drink it. Both Trace and Chirpy fell
asleep. The witch left her alone and laughed for their silly.
22
Bright lights shined on Trace and Chirp’s faces made
both their faces look pale and pretty. They woke up and
looked at each other. ‘Am I Trace?’ ‘Am I Chirpy? Wow,
that’s amazing!’ ‘How do I walk like a woman?’ wondered
Trace. They practiced how people are looking, laughing,
walking. They were happy but they knew there will be a
bigger thing waiting for them: To find true love! They said
Tree lady
23
good-bye to their past and all the animals in the forest.
Trace was going to visit the witch and went to find the man
she loved. She wanted to know the result if she could not
find true love or how long she could be alive. They had no
money to buy food, but an old couple took them in their
house and gave them clothes and food a few days ago. One
day, at the dinner table, Trace asked the old grandma about a
woman who marry currently. ‘Well…I can’t remember lots
of things by these days. The prince was getting married
about three weeks ago. Why do you ask?’ ‘Nothing special, I
am thankful for your kindness but I have nothing in return…’
‘That’s fine,’ smiled the two old people. Trace and Chirpy
Tree lady
left the two old people and was going to find the witch.
Chapter three: The deal
‘Who is it?’ asked the witch. ‘It is me, the
tree, Trace’ answered Trace. The witch
opened the door and said, ‘You are going to ask me the result
of couldn’t find true love? I want to ask you first, why you
can do something impulsively and still worrying about the
results?’ ‘Well, that was a sort of feeling…,’ Trace sounded
absent-minded. ‘Come and sit down, tea or milk?’ ‘No,
thanks. What would we be if I couldn’t be his wife?’ ‘Well, I
want you to know you have limited times. During these 365
24
Tree lady
25
days, you have to let him be your husband and love you very
much. Secondly, you can not be pregnant. If you can’t find
true love, you and Chirpy both will be what you were before or
be punished unluckily: you will become dust disappearing in
the air. That all depends on what you are going to do.’
explained the witch. Trace concentrated on looking out of
the window. Chirpy then asked the witch again, ‘How long
will we live?’ ‘It depends on when you find true love. If you
did, you will live as long as human beings.’ Trace was still
absent-minded. Ok, that’s alright. I am a real woman now;
I can’t go back and must walk forward. ‘Thank you; I must
go find my true love.’ Trace cut in suddenly. They opened
Tree lady
the door and said good-bye to the witch. They felt
something coming to their mind; something heavy, unknown
and unavoidable. ‘How should we find “him”?’ asked Chirpy.
‘Let’s go to that big building, he might be there. Grandma
won’t lie to us.’ Trace ran toward that castle and Chirpy
shouted after her. They looked happily like they had already
found Trace’s true love.
‘So, this is the gate of the castle. How can
we go in?’ thought Chirpy. ‘We can climb on the
wall and jump in. But, the guards would be many and we
would be killed…,’ Trace suggested that they should wait
outside the castle because the prince will surely come out.
26
Tree lady
‘You are right. Let’s wait outside.’ Although it was cool
outside, it was still cold in the middle of the night.
27
The noises of the big gate wakened the two fair ladies
up. ‘Hey, what are you doing here?’ They opened their eyes
and heard a clear voice, ‘Hey, ladies, what are you doing here?’
The man is that prince. ‘Do you have a home?’ asked the
prince kindly. Trace looked at him without saying any
words. After a while, the prince broke the ice and said,
‘Excuse me, I am going hunting.’ turning his face from Trace
and Chirpy’s faces. ‘No…’ spoke Trace. She thought that
was an unbelievable chance. She must say something to make
him notice her. ‘Wait…, are you the prince? I do not have
Tree lady
28
any other thoughts but…’ ‘But what?’ he turned his face back
and looked at Trace carefully. ‘May I…may I be your
wife...oh, not wife, I mean may I be your maid?’ shacking
Trace. ‘I am sorry, but I can’t decide who would be my maid
or servant.’ Trace was disappointed but she kept asking him if
she could be a serve in the palace. This was the last chance
for her to be his wife after all. ‘Uh…Ok. What is your
name?’ ‘My name is Trace and this is my friend, Chirpy,’ ‘No, I
am her maid actually.’ Trace glanced at Chirpy at once thinking
how good her friend was. The prince kept asking Trace
some questions. Then he went into the castle and asked his
mother if he could have a maid serve him. After few hours
Tree lady
29
later, the prince walked out and smiled, ‘Yes, she said ok, but
you must go to see her.’ ‘Not a problem, I will do my best.
Am I right, Chirpy?’ ‘Yes,’ smiled Chirpy. They wondered
how lucky they were and everything had gone in their way.
‘Follow me, please…,’ said one of the servants with swords.
‘You two must keep your mouths tight unless our master asks
you questions,’ reminded a kind servant. Trace and Chirpy
looked at each other smiling. They knew them almost did it.
They came into the main door of this castle. The door was
made on shining gold and there was a big and old tree. She
was thinking about her self-satisfied looks and round face.
The servant opened the big door and led them to a beautiful
Tree lady
room. ‘You are Trace and Chirpy. Let me see your faces.
Come over here,’ said the queen. ‘Well, you can stay here and
serve the prince, but you should learn how to dress yourselves
first. Lead these girls to the dressing room.’ A maid came
over and led them to shower. ‘You are so lucky to be the
prince’s maids. You only need to prepare breakfast for our
prince and princess. That is all,’ admired the maid. They
looked at each other and smiled again. The maid didn’t
notice that. Their dream is going to realize.
Chapter four: Pay the price
Trace and Chirpy started to learn how to be maids and
30
Tree lady
31
observed the prince every day. Trace and Chirpy tried really
hard to adapt to the life in the palace, but in some of
conditions, Trace didn’t like the princess. The princess
always looked at Trace in a strange looking; the eyes were strict
and unkind. When Trace served the princess, Elena, she
always complained about everything including the temperature
of the tea. Trace recalled the princess was that crying girl in
the forest and had once gained her compassion. That was
the world of human beings and mixed feelings. Trace
realized how hard it was to gain the prince’s love because the
prince would not even glance at her except during the time she
served the meals. How could she expect him to love her?
Tree lady
32
There were almost two hundred days last in her life. She
tried hard to get some information about the prince to be
closer to her. Every morning after Trace served the meal, she
always smiled at the prince to get his attention and that
irritated his princess, Elena. Trace sometimes will
eavesdropped on the conversation between the queen and
Elena. Elena often said something about Trace and that
made her uncomfortable. She was sad, and even wanted to
drop the idea of marry the prince. However, she had no
choice. She felt strange about the conversation between the
queen and Elena. The queen always ignored what Elena
complained about; Elena was trying to get the queen’s
Tree lady
attention. They were arguing not only about Trace, but
something much more serious.
33
One afternoon, Trace heard a loud voice and heard
something mystery. ‘Now, what do you want indeed? You let
me in, and you ignore me like I am invisible,’ shouted Elena.
‘Well, the only solution for you is to go away,’ replied the
queen in a low voice. ‘No, I love prince although I can’t have
a baby with him,’ cried Elena. ‘Then, go away; I don’t want
to see you again. My son is also sick of your capricious
becoming.’ said the queen coldly. Elena cried a little bit and
opened the big door of the queen’s room. Trace was outside
and heard the conversation between these two. Elena saw her
Tree lady
standing beside the door and was shocked, ‘Why are you here?
What is your duty? Do you want to go away?’ Trace could
see the red color on her nose and in her eyes. ‘No, I bring
tea for the queen. That’s all,’ replied Trace.
34
Trace had a good relationship with the queen lately.
The queen always wanted her to bring tea to her room and
dressed Trace like a daughter. Actually, the queen had once
asked her if she wanted to be the prince’s wife. Every time
she was asked, Trace almost said ‘Yes!’ to her. Because of
Elena, she couldn’t be so heartless. That night, when Trace
was serving meals to the prince and princess, Trace smiled at
the prince as usual. Tonight, the queen drank lots of wine
Tree lady
35
happily and also asked the prince to drink. The prince
couldn’t drink anymore and told his maid, Trace, to take him
to his room. The princess was drunk, too. Trace helped
the prince back to his room. ‘Are you Trace? Why do you
always smile at me? Do you know that, I, I have liked you for a
long time, in fact, since we met outside the castle…, you
looked so pretty and pale…., But I have a wife that my
mother wanted me to marry. I once asked her to leave
because I didn’t like her, but my mother was there, and she
wanted me to promise her to marry the princess of Black
Country. Do you know how hard to made that decision?’
cried the prince. ‘I know, I also have made a hard decision
Tree lady
and promise, too. That was really hard, go to sleep my
prince.’ ‘Stay with me!’ shouted the prince. The prince let her
lie next to him. They had a beautiful night. Trace
succeeded and the prince told her what was on his mind.
36
Time flew. Trace got pregnant and was about to
deliver. No one knew whose baby she had. Trace still
smiled at the prince when she was serving the meals and the
difference was neither she got the response from the prince
nor he smiled at her. The princess was irritated and angry,
but the queen was happy and excited. Everyone in the palace
knew the situation among all of these people, including
Chirpy. Chirpy was happy to see that happened. It was the
Tree lady
secret between her and Trace.
Today was the three hundred and sixty-four day, and
Trace thought she was so lucky to have found her true love.
But she must marry the prince; otherwise she would turn to be
dust as well. ‘When I deliver the baby, I will be his wife,’
thought Trace. This evening, when Trace was serving the
meals, she felt pain in her womb. She was going to have the
prince’s baby!
Trace delivered a beautiful boy. He looked
just like his father, the prince. But, today was
Trace’s last day in this castle.
After she delivered a boy, she weakly told Chirpy that she
37
Tree lady
wanted to see her child. Chirpy told her that the child was
taken to the queen by Elena. ‘No, I want to see my baby.
Please, bring him here!’ begged Trace. The queen now
walked toward Trace’s room and held a child in her arms.
The queen walked into the dark room and said, ‘I must
remind you that you are a “maid” not a princess. I very
appreciate to find you gave a baby to us. Tomorrow you are
going to leave this castle, so pack your things right away,’ said
the queen coldly. Trace was terrified and passed out.
38
Tree lady
Chapter five:The legend
Trace was wakened up by the cold wind and found herself and
Chirpy lying in the forest. Trace couldn’t believe she was
happy just yesterday when she smiled at the prince while she
was serving the meals. Now, she was in the Black Forest
where she was a tree just like before. She ran to the gate of
the castle and begged the guard to open the door, but the two
guards were standing there like two big stones. She was
desperate and looked at Chirpy and said ‘What should I do
now?’ ‘Wait here and see whether the prince will come out
looking for you,’ suggested Chirpy. Trace was crying and
39
Tree lady
shouting the prince’s name. She remembered what he had
said that night, no, she would never forget that. That was
her choice anyway, and now the situation could not be even
worse. ‘Ok, I will wait here and this is my last chance.’
40
However, this was the day for the curse to come true.
Trace didn’t see the prince and her legs and hands turned into
long and rugged. She became a tree again, and Chirpy
became dust disappearing in the air. Trace was a tree
standing right outside in front of the gate of the castle. She
recalled what her best friend had done for her and been
disappointed in herself. If she behaved well like her father
had said, she would be a tree in the forest and become respect.
Tree lady
41
Actually, she did not regret what she had done, but she
wouldn’t do this again if she had another choice at that time.
Trace felt sad about her father and Chirpy, her best friend.
She realized what the human’s world was like. Now, she is a
legend in the forest; sad but moral.
Tree lady
42
Tree lady
43
Tree Lady In the Black Forest near the castle, Trace had been a tree for centuries. After her father “the old tree” died, she was very sad and unhappy. One day, there appeared a handsome prince and Trace felt herself had fallen in love with him. Trace became happier and even wanted to marry this man. However, she wasn’t a real woman. Trace asked her friend, Chirpy, to find the witch. The witch turned Trace and Chirpy into human beings. Trace wanted to find her true love and Chirpy wanted to help Trace. Will Trace find her true love in the end? If she didn’t find her true love, the magic would disappear?