Rooted: When The Trees Whisper - Softcover

Ridgeway, Mary

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1449047823 ISBN 13: 9781449047825

Publisher: AuthorHouse, 2010

Synopsis

It was only a picnic. It was just a short ride in the car. A scream? Who screamed? Wendy's life of seven years is full of love, devotion, fun and happiness until it is drastically changed forever when tragedy sweeps into her life like a sudden gust of wind. In her sorrow and grief, fear grips her as she is caught between reality and a secret world known only to her. A world where trees could talk. Where they felt happiness, sorrow, courage and had families and friends. A world that was destined to be found. A world that would change our lives FOREVER.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

"You haven't answered my question that I asked you when the little Walk-To was here. Have you forgotten?" Twiggy asked Little Bark.

"Which question was that?" he asked half-mindedly.

"You know......what is a Christmas tree? The little Walk-To wants to dig me up for its Christmas tree and I want to know what one is," she said, worried that she wouldn't be planted back where she could be with all her friends.

Little Bark cleared his mind. "I'm not quite sure just what it is, Twiggy. I have thought about it for some time since the Walk-To was here, but, I do not know. I think we should ask Old Moss. I have not heard of one either."

"Oh, no, not me! Don't include me in this!" she shuddered, her eyes as big as the full moon, "You and Fuzzy Moss are the only Mere Twigs that he likes to talk to. I don't think that Old Moss likes me very much. Besides, he gives me the bark bumps! He's so very old and wise. It is like talking to one of the ancients. He scares me. And, he's too darned elusive with his answers. I have heard him answer a few of the questions that you have asked him and most of the time he doesn't make any sense to me," she explained, shaking as though she had a bad chill run up her trunk.

"Oh, Twiggy, it is all in your imagination. He's not going to eat you for breakfast, you know. He really is a very understanding tree, once you get to know him." He looked at her and she was still shaking. He wanted to put his branches around her and comfort her and tell her that everything was going to be alright, but, he didn't dare.....yet. "I have an idea," he said after a short pause, "I'll count to three and we will both ask him, okay?" This was his way of trying to get Twiggy over her fear of Old Moss. He never had been afraid. He could have asked him and left Twiggy completely out of it, but, he wanted Old Moss and Twiggy to be friends. He wanted her to be able to ask him anything she felt she needed counseling with.

"Okay," she agreed, reluctantly.

"Okay, now get ready! One...two...three! Old Moss!" They both yelled in unison.

"Heavens to earth!" Old Moss jumped in surprise. "What is the matter with the two of you? You scared the leaves right off my limbs! I shall probably end ten cycles sooner than I would have had you not frightened the bark right off my trunk! Now, what is so imperative that you felt the need to terrorize the whole Thicket?" Old Moss sounded a bit irritated.

Little Bark was trying to caution him about becoming angry with them. He was afraid that Twiggy would never try to speak to Old Moss again. He had to admit that he felt a little intimidated himself.

"We have a very important question to ask you," Little Bark said, a little dramatically.

"Why did you feel it necessary to yell so loud? I am right here where I have always been, I cannot move, remember? I am just as rooted as the rest of you. At least, I think I am still rooted. After such a fright it is a wonder I do not topple over! Is it that you think that I am growing deaf or something? My senses are even ringing!" he scolded them.

"I didn't yell loud, he did!" Twiggy said, pointing to Little Bark.

"Hey, you little bump on a log! You yelled just as loud as I did! Don't put all the blame on me and get me into trouble!" he told her,
abruptly.

Then, as he looked at Twiggy, he realized that he had almost made her cry.

"Well, it was your idea," she pouted.

"I'm sorry," he told her, compassionately.

"Enough, both of you!" he told them both firmly. "You could have asked me ten questions already while you have been bickering back and forth. What is it that seems to be so important?" Old Moss' curiosity was getting the better of him.

"We want to know, Great Teacher, what a Christmas tree is," Little Bark told him as they both began to giggle at scaring Old Moss so thoroughly.

About the Author:

Mary is a graduate of Yamhill, Carlton High School in Yamhill, Oregon. She and her husband have been married for forty-one wonderful years. She is a housewife, mother of three beautiful daughters and a proud grandmother of twelve. She is expecting her first great grandchild in late April 2010. The loss of her father at the tender age of ten led Mary into her own private, fantasy world where she could live without grieving, smile without tears and laugh without feeling guilty. Guilty that she should feel good things when her heart was so full of grief. It is the world that writers dream of visiting. A world where anything can happen. A world where your only limitation is how far your imagination can take you. And, this is where Mary's passion for writing began.

About this edition

• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1449047823
• ISBN 13: 9781449047825
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 296