Stories for the Elderly The Fallen Tree

Stories for the Elderly The Fallen Tree

It is a small colony with four streets and with around 100 households
Suddenly few elderly people joined together and went around the colony informing people that a tricycle for collecting garbage daily in the colony is arranged and every household was requested to pay Rs.15/- per month to the person collecting garbage.
Then as a second step they arranged for planting around 20 trees divided in the four streets
The trees grew taller, bigger and stronger.
One day one houseowner found that the tree adjacent to his house on the road has grown very big and enables anyone to climb it and reach his house roof easily
Therefore he decided to cut the tree and removed the tree from that street
One tree has gone
Then on 5th and 6th December 2010 it rained incessantly and major portions of the four roads were submerged in the stagnant rain water.
Then suddenly one big tree in another street slowly heaved under its weight and fell on the road blocking traffic on that road on 6th December 2010 morning.
The tree remained on the road the whole day and fond memories of its existence over the years flashed in the minds of those who viewed its fallen glory
Under the tree used to sit young boys who wanted to have a glimpse of the girl living in house opposite to the tree parking their motor bykes in the shades
Those who used the road to access their homes situated at a distance used to rest under the shade for some time before proceeding further especially when they had things to carry
In the afternoon when the school was over daily boys and girls on their way home used to sit, chat and play under the shades of this tree
In the evening children from nearby localities used to come and play under the tree until some body shouted them away not able to tolerate the noise by them while playing
House owners near the tree vied with one another to park their cars under the tree enjoying its shade especially in hot summers
Then there was the very old poor lady who used to collect fallen coconut tree branches to come and sit under the shade to peel off the hard spine of the leaves to make a broom or two and sell them for her livelihood
But she used to be arrogant and shout away anybody trying to park their cars under the tree as she required the whole space to do her work of making out a broom on that day
People used to ignore her arrogance out of sympathy minding her age and her poverty
Now that tree is lying down on the road losing its majestic looks
On 7th December 2010 the Administrative Authorities arranged for cutting and removing the tree from the road and alas now the whole road appears to be vacant
The once standing majestic towering tree is gone
Bye and Good Bye to YOU, the Then Poochi Tree as it is identified by those with botanical knowledge