a short story for adrian

I recently went to Adrian's wedding to Jen, and that reminded me of this story. I wrote this story after Adrian and his mum (my sister)  returned to live back in Australia after a year in New Zealand. I remember the day as if it was only a few years ago  - Adrian would have been four - he's now a grown man...how the years fly by.

AUTUMN:

By danny fahey

An enormous oak tree lives in my uncle's front yard. In spring and summer I climb its branches. I have done so for many years. The oak tree is a wonderful place to sit and read. My uncle's hammock is tied between the tree and the fence. He sleeps in the hammock while I play beneath the tree. 

It was autumn when I first visited my uncle at his new house. I had been overseas for a year. We had been living in New Zealand. I had missed my uncle.

My mother and I arrived  after lunch. My uncle was sitting at the porch waiting for us. He loves sitting on porches. His dog, Harry, was lying at his feet, panting. Mum stopped the car and I looked out the window and saw uncle Danny smiling. He stood up and waved. My uncle opened the car door and helped me out. We chatted.

‘Hello Adrian. Long time no see,’ said uncle Danny

‘Hello Uncle Danny.’  I felt shy. It had been a long time.

‘Welcome to my new home,’ my uncle said as his hand lightly touched my head. ‘Are you glad to be back in Australia?’ he asked.

‘Yes,’ I said.

We looked at each other and then uncle Danny smiled. I smiled back.

‘Come and see my oak tree,’ said uncle Danny.

Uncle Danny held my hand and together  we walked over to the oak tree. We stopped beneath its branches. It was enormous. I was a bit scared looking up at its swaying branches and knobbly old trunk. My uncle lifted me up and held me close.

‘It is a big tree, isn't it Adrian?’

‘Very big.’

‘Yes’, said my uncle, laughing, ‘very big indeed.’ Uncle Danny pointed at the ground beneath the tree.   ‘Look at all the leaves that have fallen from it.’  He said.

I looked at the ground. Thousands of leaves lay sprawled across the grass. Bright red and orange leaves that lay upon the ground like fallen stars.

‘In autumn the leaves fall from the oak tree just as they do from a lot of other trees.’

‘Why do they fall uncle Danny?’ I asked.

‘The leaves grow tired of hanging onto the branches all summer. When autumn comes their fingers slip and the leaves drift free in the breeze until they fall to the ground.’

My Uncle gently placed me down upon the ground. He smiled down at me, his eyes sparkling.  ‘Would you like to play with the leaves Adrian?’

‘How?’ I asked

‘We'll figure something out.’

We walked around the back. Harry bounded ahead. I walked beside my Uncle, holding his hand. Harry ran up to us with a tennis ball held in his mouth. He dropped it at our feet.

‘Get on with you Harry,’ said my uncle.

Harry barked and wagged his tail. My uncle laughed and kicked the ball Harry had dropped. Harry chased after the ball.

We came to a small shed. The shed was painted bright yellow and had a red roof. It looked funny. I laughed.

‘Yes, it is a funny shed,’ said my uncle.

‘I like it,’ I said.

‘I'm glad you like it Adrian.’

My uncle opened the door. It was dark in the shed. The shed was full of tools. Harry pushed past and sniffed around the shed.

‘Harry hopes he will find a mouse,’ said my uncle.

‘Will he?’ I asked.

‘Not likely, he's too noisy. The mice have long gone,’ said uncle Danny as he looked inside the shed. ‘This is what I'm after. Perfect for playing with oak leaves.’

Uncle Danny held a rake in his hand. Together we walked back to the front yard and stood beneath the oak tree. My mother and aunt Jenny were on the porch talking. Aunt Jenny came down the steps and kissed my cheek. She smelled of scones.

I turned back towards the oak tree and saw my uncle raking the fallen leaves. He raked and raked and the mound of leaves grew larger and larger. I ran down the steps and joined him. The mound of leaves came up to my waist. He started on another mound. When it was as large as the first, he joined them with a third mound. Curious, I waited.

‘There!’ said uncle Danny,’ we are ready to begin.’

With a roar, uncle Danny dove into the leaves. Laughing, I joined him. Leaves went everywhere. In my hair. In my mouth. They even tickled my ears. Leaves slid down my shirt and into my socks. Leaves flew in the air and fell like dry snow. Armfuls of leaves, legfuls of leaves. The air was flooded with leaves as my uncle and I laughed and screamed.

When the mounds were gone my uncle raked them back up again. This time we strove through the mounds with our legs. Driving through the leaves like huge tractors. Creating paths while leaves flew everywhere. From the porch I could hear my mother and aunt Jenny laughing and clapping their hands together.

Uncle Danny became a shark and swam in the leaves... 

Next he became a bird and nestled in the leaves...

A fire, burning the forest... 

A snake slithering through the long grass... 

A dragon sleeping on his treasure...

I joined uncle Danny and between us we traveled to marvelous places. The leaves became whatever we wished. Whenever the mounds vanished my uncle would rake them back again. 

Sometimes Harry joined us, barking and wagging his tail. 

Birds flew passed, chittering at us for making so much noise. 

The day began to darken.  Mum called  to me. It was time to go home. I was sad. I wanted to stay. Mum came over and took hold of my hand. I felt the tears welling up in my eyes.

‘Don't worry Adrian,’  said uncle Danny,  ‘the oak tree will always be here.

‘Will the leaves be here too? ‘

‘If it is autumn. Every autumn the leaves fall. Every spring they return. Just like you going away and coming back.’

‘I was gone for a long time.’

‘Yes you were, but now you are back.’

I kissed my uncle's cheek and he ruffled my hair with his hand. I patted Harry.

‘Come on Adrian,’ said my mother in a funny voice. I looked up at her and saw her eyes were moist.

‘What’s wrong?’ I asked.

‘Nothing,’ said my mother, ‘I’m just glad to be back.’

‘Me too,’ I said.

‘See you soon,’ said Aunt Jenny.

‘Very soon,’ I said then I went and kissed aunt Jenny’s soft cheek.

I felt my uncle’s hand ruffle my hair.

‘I love the oak tree uncle Danny!’ I cried.

‘I love you Adrian. I'm glad you are back.’

Mum and I left uncle Danny, aunt Jenny and Harry at the gate. Uncle Danny and aunt Jenny stood waving  to us as we drove away. Harry barked and wagged his tail.

Since then I have seen lots of trees and played with lots of leaves but I'll never forget that day. Uncle Danny says he will never forget it either.