Uncovering Secrets The Tale of Oakime

Uncovering Secrets The Tale of Oakime:

A little girl named Ashley lived in the village with her parents and younger brother. Their house was a cozy little cottage. In their backyard was an old oak tree, which was planted by Ashley's grandfather and a see saw where she and her brother used to play on.

Ashley's house with an old oak tree

Ashley loved the old big tree. She would swing from its branches, whisper her secrets to the leaves and tell jokes to it. 

Ashley's swinging on the oak tree

One day as she was swinging from one of its branches, she heard a voice, '' Be careful little Ashley!'' Little Ashley looked around. Confused after finding nobody, she called out, ''Is there anyone in here?''

''It is me little Ashley, the old oak tree you are sitting on.''

Old oak tree talking with the Ashley

Ashley could not believe her ears! The old oak tree that had grown with them over the years could speak! She was both shocked and scared.

The tree then introduced himself as ''oakime'' a name that Ashley s grandfather used to call the tree with. "Oakime!'' she gasped, ''that is a funny name!'' chuckled Ashley.

The talking tree told Ashley wonderful stories about trees how flowers grow, and how plants and animals communicate with each other.

''Now I know! That brushing of leaves is the way trees talk!'' Ashley whispered her eyes wide with joy and excitement. She spent the rest of the evening with the oak tree, learning the trees language. She now knew that the rustling of trees sometimes meant joy and excitement or sadness and fear.

Early in the morning, the next day, Ashley went out of her village into the whispering woods. She was determined to help her plant friends with her newfound knowledge given by Oakime.

On her way, she found a baby sapling which looked a bit sad and wilted. She sat next to it and on hearing its worried whispers she felt sorry for the sapling. It was worried that the wind in the forest would blow him away. So, she gathered some scattered sticks in the forest and made a shelter type place for the sapling. She watered it so that the baby sapling could get more stronger.

Ashley sitting with a sad baby sapling

Every day, she returned to the forest and took care of the baby sapling. With her continuous and sturdy efforts, the little sapling grew stronger every day. 

Healthy, happy sapling growing stronger everyday

In return she learnt much better to communicate with the trees and help nature. Every day after returning to her house she gave awareness to the people of her village to help young plants and animals in danger. She also made a small rescue team with her village friends in order to save any living creature in need.

   One day, as Ashley set next to oakime talking and sharing her secrets, she suddenly felt sad. As she was growing she knew that her time in the village was coming to an end. After sometime, she might have to leave this magical place of nature. She looked around and then at the old oak tree. She smiled as her praising was to be heard in the passing winds blew by the new growing trees and plants. She felt proud as she had played a small part in creating the beautiful and vibrant forest near the village. Her praising continued and reached to the old oak tree. He felt happy too, as if he thanked Ashley for her care. The forest around Ashley was now alive with the chirruping of birds, rustling of leaves and the blooming of flowers. As she walked away, she knew that the oak tree would stand as a legacy for her care of the nature.

Lively Forest around Ashley

Caring For Nature:

    Like human beings, animals and plants also have emotions and feelings. They can't speak or express their emotions but they are living beings too. Plants need soil, water, and sunlight to grow. We must take care of plants and animals in order to keep them alive, just like little Ashley helped the wilted baby sapling to grow into a strong healthy tree.