Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)
Today, is a Six Sentence Story, a challenging and enjoyable writing thing that Friend of the Doctrine zoe (aka Ivy) throws most ever week!
The tree stood for as long as Jennifer could remember, it was there when she left her small town to attend college, it was there when she returned briefly, to take those few things that she could not bear to have strangers pick through and sell, and here it (still) stood. As she approached, on this wintry day, she gave more care to her steps, as if the passing of time made her linger, not for fear of falling, but merely to delay. Pulling at her coat, producing what her late husband would refer to as ‘the self-hugging of the well-tailored woman’, she smiled, despite the discomfit that she felt.
‘The time has come to remember and let go” she thought, as she stepped carefully over the protruding roots, in a one woman minuet, around the base of the tree. It was only in the last quarter of her circuit that she saw, carved in the trunk, the passing of time causing the names, to be absorbed by the growth of the tree. Rather than being erased, the two pairs of initials had become part of the trunk and so, a part of the living tree.
…
About clarkscottroger
Poignancy becomes you.
Nice one.
Since I was Frist, I’ll do a followup comment…. I LOVE that tree! With it’s arms outstretched and it’s mouth open. And damn! look at the size of those armpits!
Ha ha ha armpits!
frist
( you two stop laughing at my tree )
Whenever I see initials carved into a tree I wonder about the people who live on their with the tree; an enduring record of their love.
yeah, that sense of becoming a part of something else
Where did you get the photo? Is it yours? This was a great little read my “non-writer” friend. It made me just a touch heartsick with my own “late” memories… sign of a good story is the counter transference eh?
off my close personal friend, ‘the google’! thank you, good insight (on the counter transference), surely that is (a) sign of finding words that resonate(able) or something
Look at you, being all sweet and sentimental! Nice job, Clark!
thank you, Miz Dyanne!
This story was totally captivating, so beautifully written! The tree in your photo must have a magnificent spirit indeed!
thanks J. the fun of (this Six Sentence Story) is when words come out (of wherever they come out of) and onto the screen/paper
Very nice. Mr. Wakefield Doctrine has a knack for prose, it turns out. Who knew?
Exactly, Kristi! Who knew? :)
one of the great mysteries of our time, yes?
lol
thank you Kristi…I sure had not a clue
I really love this tale, so powerful. Had me from the first line!
there you go! what a great idea! (we need to find us a geek so we can create an app… a ‘Dial a Story Morsel’ app! so when you’re out there and trying to write or driving in your car and none of the standard daydream story lines are doing it*, dial a Story morsel)
* what?!! no, it’s normal! everyone has story lines for daydreams…. right?!?!