Willow was a reasonably normal child – at least, normal as much as any child could be. She wasn’t overtly destructive of her toys; she could play nicely with others and had a keen mind. A mind that wanted answers. A lot of answers. So Willow asked a lot of questions. Willow also seemed to want to share a lot of things with everyone – and that included those thoughts that should best remain as thoughts.
“That man has sticky out ears – why have you got sticky out ears?”
“That boy is walking with a limp – why is that boy walking with a limp?”
“Why does that man smell?”
“Why does that woman look funny?”
For some people they would look at Willow, perhaps tut to themselves and move on. Others would wonder why Willow’s parents had allowed her to be so free with her thoughts. The truth is, Willow’s parents despaired that their otherwise normal daughter could be, well, so thoughtless at times, but hoped that she would grow out of it as she got older.
Willow had a favourite walk to school. It took her down a country lane and along a path that followed the side of the river. On her way, she would pass a strange little cottage that backed onto the river.
One day, Willow walked past the house and saw a little old lady washing her clothes in the river.
“Why are you washing your clothes in the river?” she asked
“Because they are dirty, child” the lady politely replied.
“Why don’t you use a washing machine?” Willow quizzed her
“Because I don’t need one – I’ve got the river”
“Why do you not have a washing machine – we’ve got a washing machine – everyone has a washing machine – why do you not have a washing machine?”
“Because I have the river. Oh, I’m done now” and the lady went inside, and Willow carried onto school.
The next day, Willow passed the cottage again and saw the little old lady hanging her clothes on the line.
“Why are you hanging your clothes on the line?” she asked
“Because I’ve just washed them, child” the lady politely replied
“Why don’t you use a drier?” Willow asked
“Because I don’t need one – I have the wind”
“Why do you not have a drier – we have a drier – everyone has a drier – why do you not have a drier?”
“Because I have the wind. Oh, that’s the last one hung” and the lady went inside and Willow carried onto school.
The next day, Willow saw the old lady working in her garden.
“Why are you digging in your garden?”
“Because I have planted some vegetables”
“Why don’t you just buy them?”
“Because I’ve planted them in the ground”
“Why don’t you buy your vegetables – we go to the shops and buy ours – everyone goes to the shops and buys theirs – why don’t you buy yours?”
“Because I have ground to grow them. Young lady, you do seem to ask a lot of silly questions” the old lady, politely said
“Why are you such a funny old lady?” responded Willow
“Why are you such an impolite young lady?” replied the old lady
“Why do you do the things you do – no one else does them – why are you so odd?” badgered Willow
“I’m going inside now, but please; don’t ask me any more questions”
The old lady walked back inside, and Willow carried onto School.
The next day, most young people would have not spoken to the old lady, except perhaps to say good morning. But they aren’t Willow.
“Why are you hanging your washing up on the line?” She questioned again. “And why are you only in your night clothes – why haven’t you got dressed – I’m dressed – everyone gets dressed before they leave their house – you haven’t – why are you not dressed”.
The old lady turned and with a very serious face said
“Young lady; Please, don’t make me cross. You ask a lot of questions that you should keep in your head. Please, don’t ask me any more silly stupid questions or I will help you learn to keep your thoughts in your head”
She turned and walked back inside.
Now for me, that would be quite clear. I would know that I had angered the old lady and perhaps I should apologise, or take more care over what I said. But I’m not Willow.
The next day, Willow walked by the house and the lady was once again washing her clothes in the river.
“You are a silly old lady, not having a washing machine and making use of the river to wash your clothes. Everyone else has a washing machine, but you don’t. You don’t have a drier either – so everyone has to see what you’re washing and drying. It….”
The old lady had stopped washing her clothes and turned and stared at Willow. Her mouth pursed shut and fixing a solid, hard, cold stare at Willow, she raised her finger and pointed it at Willow.
Willow felt a change. Her legs started to join together and take root in the ground, her arms were being forced into a raised position – her fingers started to turn brown and more fingers started to come from her hands and fingers… no they started to look like twigs and branches and she found she couldn’t say anything, couldn’t shout couldn’t call for help – just slowly turn into her namesake – a Willow tree. As the bark started to harden, her clothes slowly broke up and got trapped within the bark until very soon all that remained of Willow was a young tree where she stood. Nothing else remained or indicated that Willow was ever there.
As Willow grew and the seasons turned, she found herself starting to cry as she thought about what she had said, and perhaps how cruel it was. Because the days seemed longer now, she watched as the old lady got much older, and finally died – and watched as a young family moved into her house and how the parents taught their child. As she cried, her tears were carried down the weeping branches to the river. And did Willow learn? Yes, as every time the wind blew, the lesson that Willow failed to learn when she was a girl was carried in the air between her long branches… shuuuushshshsh… shushhh… shusshhh….
Mr Christmas was happy.
