Where did the Brick Tree go?

Once upon a time (around 2018 AD) in a bustling city (Clearwater, Florida) there was a commercial lot where an empty building that had once been a thriving restaurant and then a thriving casino. The building remained on the lot empty, but the old oak trees surrounding it continue to stand and grow. Many locals would walk past the lot and look at the empty building and trees, possibly reminiscing about the history associated or their personal memories of having participated at the restaurant or casino. There were even homeless outcasts who considered the abandoned building and lot a safe, cozy park to rest at under the tall oaks that provided plenty of shade on a hot, sweaty Florida day.

Marcella was one of those lost souls who found peace, tranquility, and inspiration there. She sat upon the short cemented bench (built as a guard near the front doors for landscaping appeal) and gazed up at the tall oak trees speaking to them as if they were her only friends. She could see that others had done the same before her. There was evidence of their visits when she noticed the empty bottles and cans left under some of the trees. She had found a Munchkins box and pretended it was a jewelry box.

One day, Marcella was sitting on the cement bench wall and looking directly in front of her at one of the oldest, biggest oak trees there. She noticed that it still had some light wires wrapped around the trunk going up to the branches. She remembered when she had come to the casino and the trees were all lit up with lights. It had been so pretty. She thought it was sad, that the current visitors left their trash under the trees, and the former casino owners didn't care to remove the broken lights and wires from the trees. She walked up to the oak tree to apologize for them.

"I'm sorry you were used and forgotten," she said to the tree.

The tree smiled and spoke back.

"Thank you," the tree said, "It's nice when someone notices."

"I can't take these wires off of you," she said sadly, "I do not have the right tools."

"It's okay," the tree said, "I've gotten used to them."

Then Marcella noticed that inside the tree's wide trunk there were many red bricks. She was shocked and appalled and the tree noticed how her face looked pained.

"Oh my God," she gasped, "I've never seen this before. How could this be?"

The tree did not reply, so Marcella looked at the bricks inside the tree even closer trying to figure out how it was possible. The closer she looked, the more mysterious it was. It seemed impossible. This tree did not grow over a brick composition. It looked as though the bricks were placed inside the tree. Yet this defied the laws of Physics. There was no carpenter who could have placed the bricks inside the trunk of this tree the way she could see they were inside. She was baffled, yet the mystery or miracle was not the most disturbing part. She thought about how painful it must be for the tree to have to tolerate those bricks.

"I don't know how that happened," she sadly confessed to the tree, "But it looks terribly painful."

"It was at first," the tree told her, "But I got used to them also."

"I've never seen a miracle like this," she said, "But this seems to be a tragic miracle."

"Trees are very strong," the tree told her, "We are very old," he added.

"Yes, I understand," Marcella replied, "But that doesn't mean that we should torture you like this."

"People suffer many pains," the tree explained, "the trees, the plants, the flowers, and the animals do as well."

Then Marcella started crying.

"I'm so sorry," she wailed hugging the tree. "I feel so helpless. I can do nothing to help you, while you are still here providing for the land and for the people."

"Marcella," the tree whispered her name, "Cry if you need to, but don't despair. You have been given a gift more than I am giving. You will remember this. You have seen something that many people have not seen. My pain is gone, but you will remember it."

She hugged the tree tighter and after her tears subsided, she let go and took a deep breath.

"I love you," she told the tree, "And I will never forget you."

"Be strong like a tree," the tree smiled at her as she began to walk away.