Microfiction challenge #25: The red tree

Nip over to Jane Dougherty’s blog for this week’s challenge.

https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/4205397/posts/1245313294

Image by illustrator Virginia Frances Sterret from a book of French fairy tales

Eleyna stood before the tree and teased it to respond.
‘Come on,’ she said softly. ‘It can’t be that difficult. You’re half way there already’.
The tree stood tall and slender, refusing to use its magic to do her bidding.
Eleyna grinned and continued ‘I bet you thirty pennies you can’t do it!’
The tree shivered and bowed its elegant fingers towards her, cupping her under the chin.
In the sweet voice Eleyna had come to know and love, it tinkled laughter and said
‘I can do it. You know I can, but I’m not going to. It’s too early’.
‘But what could be earlier than Christmas?’ she exclaimed.
The tree shimmered as it giggled.
‘I have given you a variety of baubles on my boughs. That should be enough.’
Before Eleyna could reply, the tree went on,
‘I am a Magical Redwood. We are meant to be sleek in design and radiate simplistic beauty. I hate the colour green, it doesn’t suit me, but for one day a year I comply with your wishes. Besides, there is no way I am going to put on extra poundage to portray myself as a clumsy pine with all those annoying needles just so as you can stick some silly decorations on me for a week!’

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