The Tree With The Bump

by Scott C. Forrest-Allen

A young boy and his father went shopping for a Holiday Tree for their apartment.

There were many beautiful trees in the lot.

His father noticed an odd-looking tree that had a curious bump in the middle of its trunk. When he asked him what he thought of this tree, the boy said, "There's a big bump in the middle of it. It looks like the letter 'D.' I don't like it. Can't we get one of the nicer trees?"

When his father explained that this was the only tree he could afford, the boy paused and said "okay."

When he went to purchase the tree, the father was told by the salesman he would take an additional five dollars off the price because of the imperfection. 

"Did you hear that?" the father asked his son in delight. "With this extra money, we can buy some hot cocoa and cookies for us to enjoy while we decorate the tree!"

"That sounds nice," replied the boy, still sad they couldn't afford a nicer, more perfect tree.

All during the decorating, the boy was quiet but enjoyed the cocoa and cookies. His father played his son's favorite music on their CD player.

When they finished, his father asked the boy what he thought of the tree.

"I think it looks nice."

"Thank you, and thank you for your understanding. Your mother would have been proud. Tell you what; I'm going to make some more cocoa, and when I come back, we can each open one present!"

"That sounds nice."

Once his father left the room and was out of hearing distance, the boy sat on the floor in front of the tree and stared at the big bump that looked like the letter "D."

"I hate you, Tree," he began, "because you are so ugly, and you are going to ruin our Holiday. I wish we had bought one of the better trees!"

Just then, a glass ball fell from the tree and rolled towards the boy.

"Look at that. You can't even hold up our ornaments!"

The boy needed both hands to pick up the glass ball, which he did not remember putting on the tree. A blizzard of snow was happening inside. When it cleared, he saw a vision of himself and his father, and they were at the tree lot. 

The boy gazed in wonder.

He could see his father purchasing a perfect tree at the lot. He also saw his father give the salesman everything in his wallet. The boy inside the ball could not see his father's expression because he was too busy jumping up and down. The boy holding the ball, however, could see his father's face.

Another blizzard of snow took over the glass ball. Once it cleared, he saw another image. It was of the tree with the bump. It was sitting all alone and lonely in the lot in the darkness. He saw the salesman enter.

"What am I gonna do with ya?" the salesman barked. "Heck, I couldn't even give you away, you sorry pile of twigs. Guess I'll just have to throw you away. I'll be right back."

After the man left, the boy witnessed something falling from the branches of the tree in the ball. At first it looked like snow. The boy looked more closely. He saw it wasn't snow at all, but tears falling from the tree's branches. The tree was crying because no one wanted it.

The boy looked up the tree in front of him. He stared at its bump.

The boy felt heavy tears in his own eyes.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Tree," he whispered,"for all of the terrible things I thought and said about you." He paused and added, "Thank you for making our Holiday special."

"Who are you talking to?" they boy's father said as he entered the room with two mugs of cocoa. 

"Thank you for the tree, Dad. I love it."

His dad smiled and sat next to his son.

"I'm sorry I already opened one of the presents already."

"That's okay. Which one?"

"The Magic Snow Globe."

"What Magic Snow Globe?"

"The one in my hands --" but when he looked down he realized his hands were empty. "Oh, I must have dropped it. I'll look for it."

He looked everywhere, but he could not find the glass ball.

What he did find, however, were beautifully-wrapped presents for him from his dad placed under the tree while they were decorating it.

He had not noticed them before.

Dad handed his son his cocoa,
and they both clicked their mugs in a toast.

The lights on their tree twinkled softly
as the snow outside fell gently from the sky.
*
*
Whatever Holiday you celebrate, please enjoy!

Thank you,
Scott