The Fruit of Hope

She (and her husband) were the only ones who knew the secret of why this was the best tree in the neighborhood. Not only was its fruit the most delectable, it was also abundant beyond reasonable. The foliage was lush and the tree seemed to grow at such an unnatural rate.

Random walkers in the area often commented on the speed with which this particular tree had risen. Noting the significant growth from week to week the rumors spread that someone had cast a spell on the tree, or maybe the seeds had some magical power.

The tree served to divide the neighbors into suspicious or intrigued. Those holding to suspicion cast aspersions on the quiet mother who tended the beautiful pear tree, labeling her a witch behind her back and cautioning their children to stay far from her tiny cottage.

The more curious and open minded community members would pause on their walks to chat, admiring the woman’s gardens, trees and tiny infant. While the baby girl lay in her bassinet being guarded quietly by the massive pear tree while her mother would water, weed and tend her many plants chatting quielty with friendly passers by.

“You have such a green thumb,” one would comment. And she would smile and brush aside the compliment. “My gardens bring be peace,” she would demer,

“What is your secret?” Some would press.

“I simply water, and tend them everyday. And we,” she gestured to the tiny baby cooing from her shady nest, “we sing and talk to all our plants.”

As time went on, and the baby grew to be a toddler, she taught her about all the plants and how to care for each. Tiny Abigail, could be seen holding the hose and carefully misting plants while her mother weeded and kept a close eye.

The suspicious neighbors kept their distance but the rumors subsided.

Every sunny afternoon, when the lunch hour had passed, mother and child would carry a soft handmade quilt out to the yard. Fluffing it out until it was spread wide they would climb eagerly onto the blanket and snuggling next to each other they would share stories. Sometimes the stories were from beautiful picture books, other times the mother told family tales to her growing daughter. The stories her mother told were her favorite but the one she loved the most was the secret of the pear tree.

“Tell me about the pear tree!” cajolled the tiny girl. And her mother smiled and pretended she didn’t want to repeat the beautiful but bittersweet tale.

“Are you sure? I told you the Pear Tree Story, just last week.” she tried.

“Pear Tree, Pear Tree. Pear Tree. Pleeeeeaaasssse, mama.”

“All right then. You lay down and I will tell you the tale of the secret of our very own sweet pear tree watching over us right now.”

Little Abigail did as she was told and lay down next to her delicate mama who exhaled gently and began.

The Secret of the Pear Tree

“One day there was a man and a woman and they decided that they were lonely. They had a darling little home and a wonderful yard and all that was missing was a child to bring happiness and joy to them. Or so they thought. One day they discovered to their great happiness that the mother was growing a small baby inside her. They were overjoyed and could barely wait until the day would come when they could meet this precious new member of their family. The mama read stories to the baby and the daddy would come home from work each day and tell funny jokes or sing silly songs until the baby would kick his face pressed gently to the mama’s growing belly. They discovered the baby would be a boy and carefully chose his name to be Peter. The rock. They imagined he would be a strong and steady boy and grow to be an important man caring for and protecting many.

When the day finally arrived for Peter to be born they were so excited and happy. It was the greatest day of their lives. Nothing could steal their joy, not even the really strong labor contractions. The mother would moan and cry sometimes during the hard work but in between each one she would smile with anticipation. “How much longer?” She was so tired.

Finally after 22 hours Peter was born. He was big and strong just as they had imagined him. But there was a very sad problem. He was unable to breathe. No matter what the doctors did, Peter was unable to live outside the womb.

Crying as if her life was over, this gentle sweet mother thought for sure she would die from the pain. She held her silent and still baby and rocked back and forth while tears covered his beautiful face. With his own arms wrapped around his wife, the daddy’s eyes rained upon them both.”

Leaning close to her mother, little Abigail wrapped an arm around her and dabbed at the tear that snuck out of the corner of her eye. Abigail was ready for this as her mama always cried a little at this part of the story. “Tell the happy part she urged.”

“I’m getting to it, darling.” and she brushed a curl away and kissed her little girl’s forehead.

“The next day, the mommy and daddy went home from the hospital all alone. They were more sad than they had ever been in their entire lives and they thought that they would never ever find sunshine again. The mama had remembered hearing about a Hawaiian custom from the teacher of their childbirth class and she had requested that the hospital let them take Peter’s placenta home with them. It was carefully wrapped and they stored it in the bottom of their freezer. After the funeral, these lonely parents went out together to a garden store. They walked around for a long time before they finally found the perfect tree. It was too big for their little car but they stuck it inside the back seat anyway and the top of it poked out the window.”

“How far out the window mama?”

“Very far, maybe 4 feet! Taller than you are my dear.”

“That night the daddy dug a giant hole in their little backyard and the mama fetched Peter’s placenta from the washtub where it had been thawing. She carried it carefully out to the yard and deposited it into the hole. The parents felt a little silly and at the same time there was something utterly sacred and special about this moment. The daddy put the tree into the hole and they both filled in the dirt, packing it gently all around the tree. Stepping back with their dirty hands wrapped around each other, they cried softly wondering why such a perfect beautiful baby had to die. They missed Peter so very much.”

“And the really happy part?”

“Soon after the pear tree started to grow like crazy. No one had ever seen a tree grow so big so fast. And even more amazing, soon the mama discovered a new baby growing inside her. Both the mommy and the daddy were scared to love this new baby. What if this one died too. The thought of dealing with that kind of heartbreak again was almost too much. One day as they ate their dinner on a blanket underneath the pear tree, the daddy leaned over and told this new baby a joke. Then he started singing silly songs to her. ‘I can protect my own heart by not letting myself love this new baby until we know for sure. Or I can give her the best of my love and if we get to keep her or we don’t, I will know I loved her for every moment I could with all my heart.’ tears ran down the mother’s face as she felt the courageous love of her husband flow to both her and their baby. That night they chose a name for this baby. Abigail Hope. Abigail which means, ‘my father is joyful’ and Hope because she brought them so much hope. From that day forward they sang and read and joked and loved that baby the very best they could until one day, she arrived.

She came like a firecracker and they barely even made it to the hospital before she made her grand appearance crying lustily. It was the most beautiful sound in the universe to hear that hearty cry as she was passed directly to her mother’s waiting arms. Wrapping his arms around both his wife and their little Abigail both parents sobbed in joy and relief and hope. She was here and she was breathing. This was the new best day of their lives!”

“I’m still here mama. Tell the part about my birthday.”

Wiping more tears away, she continued with her hand lightly stroking her little girl’s hair.

“After the family came home from the hospital they took little Abigail outside to see Peter’s Pear tree. Suddenly, the daddy saw a dragonfly flying around and around the tree. It swooped in and landed right on Abigail’s blanket and looked just like it was smiling at her. ‘Do you realize what day it is?’ he asked the mom. She looked at him puzzled and he continued, ‘it’s exactly one year and one day since we planted this tree for Peter.’

So, you and Peter’s tree kindof have the same birthday.”

Smiling softly little Abigail nuzzled next to her mom and as she fell gently asleep she murmured “I love my big brother’s special tree.”

The mama watched her drift off for her afternoon nap. And as she lay down next to her little girl she gazed up wistfully into the branches of the tree feeling the absence of her little boy. Dangling on the lowest branch, just above her head was a lone little pear just forming. On the pear was a dragonfly and somehow she knew that Peter really was always watching over them.