The One Tree
[by Dr.Who3]    
                  	 

   As a long haul truck driver, I have seen many strange things but most 
blend into one long blur in my memory.  However, I will never forget the 
day my truck broke down near a certain nursing home.
   I walked in, made a phone call for assistance and was allowed to 
wander around the place while waiting for the help to arrive.
Not being too interested in spending time with a bunch of drooling old 
people, I took a glass of water out the back door to sit on a bench,
the end of which I had seen when walking past the glass door.
   When I stepped outside I realized there was already someone sitting 
on the end of the bench which I hadn't been able to see from inside the 
building.  Deciding that one old man was easier to put up with than the 
many old folks to be found inside, I sat down on the end of the bench 
nearest the door, facing away from the building as was the bench's other 
occupant.  
   There wasn't much to see.  The nursing home sat in a bowl shaped 
depression of farm land that had just recently been disked.  There was 
only dirt to look at as far as the eye could see except for one lone 
tree, without any leaves on it yet.  
It stood on the very lip of the bowl.
  I looked over at the old man.  He just sat contentedly 
watching that bare tree.   At least he wasn't drooling, 
shaking or making any odd noises.
In fact, I got the distinct impression that his mind was still sharp.
   After we had watched the unmoving tree for a few minutes longer, 
I told him that I was a long haul truck driver and asked 
what work he used to do.  He spoke kindly but slowly as 
an adult does when answering a child's foolish question, 
" No use talking about the past, Mister.  Right now I am 
the keeper of the one tree.  That tree out there is all that 
holds the Earth and sky together where they meet.  
If anything ever happens to it the earth and sky will separate 
like a couple of roll-up window shades."
   Just then a nurse opened the door to tell me that the people I had 
phoned had arrived.  Not knowing quite what to say to the old man, I 
shook his hand and said, "Goodbye."
   That was many years ago.  I think about that old man and his tree more 
and more often as the years pass like the turning pages of a book.
I have never been back through that area of the country but I think 
about it from time to time.
   At first, I thought that old man was crazy but as the pages of my life 
have turned I have changed my opinion.  
Now I hope that when my time comes there will be a tree for me.