by Jen Harley

Created on: February 16, 2009

My name is Daisy and I live in the clearing of a forest. I have a friend who lives next to me and his name is Oak Tree.

Oak Tree is very tall and wide. He gives me shade when the morning sun gets too bright and hot. When it rains he bends his branches to shield me from the heavy raindrops. Sometimes I think that I am a bother but Oak Tree says this is nonsense; some things need more care than others and that doesn't make them a bother. Oak Tree is very wise.

One night Oak Tree and I were watching the sun go down and I felt the cool night air ruffle my petals. Oak Tree smiled and dropped a leaf around me.

"Winter won't be long now Daisy."

I snuggled against the warm leaf and looked up at Oak Tree, "Do you feel sad when you lose your leaves?"

Oak Tree just smiled and dropped another leaf around me, "No, because when they fall they keep the ground warm for us as well as the other plants and animals during winter."

"Well I feel very sad when my petals fall off." I didn't like the thought of losing my petals again.

Oak Tree yawned, "Just remember that you'll grow new petals in the spring and they'll be even prettier than before." I closed my eyes and fell asleep listening to Oak Tree hum a song to himself.

Winter came as expected and I lost my petals. Oak Tree had lost his leaves and they were now a warm blanket covering the ground. A few winter birds were hopping on the ground looking for food.

"Winter's almost over Daisy, I can see the grass growing through the snow."

I don't like winter because everything is too cold and quiet. I like it better when all the plants and animals come out to play. I fell asleep listening to the quiet winter wind, waiting impatiently for spring.

Spring finally arrived and I sat with Oak Tree and watched a family of rabbits nibble on some grass. My petals had grown back thin and white again. Oak Tree's leaves grew back and he stood proudly in the center of the clearing.

He looked down at me and smiled, "Well Daisy, spring is finally here."

I looked up at him and smiled. A robin was feeding her babies in a nest on one of his branches. He looked over and moved one of his branches to cover the nest with some shade. I stretched toward the blue sky as a butterfly landed on my petals and its feet tickled my face. I laughed at such a lovely day.

Suddenly the family of rabbits looked up in alarm and ran away. Oak Tree became very quiet and he moved his branch closer to the mother Robin as she sat on her next of babies.

"What's the matter Oak Tree?" Everything was too quiet and I didn't like it.

A little girl walked toward us, singing to herself and carrying a basket of flowers.

She sat down and leaned against Oak Tree. She sang another song and then looked over at me curiously. I knew what was going to happen next but I couldn't call to Oak Tree to help me, my voice wouldn't work.

I could feel the warmth of her hand as she came closer to me. I closed my eyes and whispered goodbye to Oak Tree as a tear slid down my petals.

"OUCH!"

I opened my eyes and looked up at Oak Tree. He winked at me and dropped another acorn onto the girl's head with a loud PLINK. The girl stood up and looked at Oak Tree angrily. She picked up the acorn and threw it at him.

"Stupid squirrels!"

She frowned, picked up her basket and ran out of the clearing.

All at once everything returned to normal again. The family of rabbits came back and began to play and the mother robin began to sing to her babies.

I looked up at Oak Tree, "You saved me Oak Tree."

He smiled and dropped a leaf around me, "We're friends Daisy, and friends help each other."

As night fell I snuggled against Oak Tree's leaf. There was no place safer than my clearing in the forest, my home.

The End

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