The Oaken Forest

The Oaken Forest

As I walked forward, I saw a forest in front of me with massive old oak trees lining the route. Looking at them, I could see and began to sense something was definitely different about them.

This was not what I was anticipating. Where would be the wise man deep in the forest that was the guardian of the trees and all that grew therein? And quite frankly, WHAT use would he be when he was old? Surely a younger man would have been a better guardian.

“So, my dear, what are you searching for? There are many answers within our borders, although some may not wish to respond to you. I perceive you are a humanoid, but honestly, I don’t mind. Would you like me to take you forward or do you wish to travel alone?”

“Grandmother, Grandmother, you are FAR too weary to gad about with young humanoids. I will take your place while you have your nap, if she needs accompanying.”

I watched the give and take from what looked like oak trees and wondered how they were able to speak to me and how they (or anyone else for that matter) would accompany me.

“Oh, dear , yes. I do need a nap” the older tree said. “Where did I put my shawl?”

“Grandmother, Grandmother, you know it goes in the hole for owls and you need to remember your cap as well. You get awfully cold while you are sleeping and I don’t want to nurse you back to health again. If you could just remember your age.”

“AGE? AGE?” the older tree raged “I am perfectly capable of doing whatever it is YOU do, even if it takes me a bit longer. The world won’t end if I want to do something more.”

“Calm down, Oakie” said an oak that looked like a little old man. I wondered how on earth they looked normal but were chatting to each other and obviously sentient beings. “She didn’t mean anything by it. Our little Oakly always looks after us, don’t you?”

“Yes Granddad,” she responded. “I do try. Because I don’t want you getting too old and dying on me, even though I know it happens. And guess what? I think I saw a little acorn beginning to grow on my branches. Can you see it?”

The old oak tree put his glasses on and leaned in to see them. “My goodness! Yes, they are there. Welcome to maturity my child. One dreads to ask the age, but I believe that you must be 23 years old now and ready for this change within you. You need to remember to take the richness from the soil around your roots and not forget extra water (other trees will provide if necessary). Of course we stopped producing acorns some time ago.”

“Come on,” Oakly whispered to me “we need to get going if it’s the old man you wish to see. I am not sure from what source he emanated, but there you are. People believe he is clever and knows the answer to their problems. And if we don’t get a move on, I’ll have Grandma on my back, telling me I need to DO something.

So we quietly passed by them - Oakly seemed to just skim the earth beneath her and made no noise and I tried to find areas I could move quietly so we could go mostly unnoticed.

“Do humanoids have a name?” she asked me. “You are the first I have encountered. I’m not trying to be rude by asking.”

“Oh no, my name is Ede. Bizarre name but the one I was given.”

“My goodness, we get to change our names if we wish when we reach maturity, but quite honestly I think I’ll skip it. My name connects me to my family and I like that.”

“Ede! I forgot to ask who you wanted? Could you tell me what you are here for please? Are you looking for the old man? I mean, I assume you are, because you have that look about you.”

“Look? What look?” I asked her. “Yes I am looking for the old man.”

“Well, you see, we can always tell when someone hasn’t yet drank of the holy water he makes some blessing over. So be welcome and partake of the water, if that’s is what you are here for.”

We continued on the winding path and came to a small clearing where there was a tiny cottage and a massive log on the ground as a seat for whoever needed it, I guessed.

“Oh, remember to call him “Good old man” Oakly whispered to me hurriedly. And make sure to talk to him in a way that shows respect for who he is and what he does.”

With her words ringing in my ears, the old man came towards me. I put my hands together and bowed in the way people of the Orient do. “Good Old Man” I said, “please could I have some holy water? I need it for restoration and recovery after my cancer. I have heard this will give me the strength I need to take care of my family and devote my life to them.”

“Well,” the Good Old Man replied. “You are right to wish to take care of your family but I don’t want to give you this water and you end up with nothing of yourself because of this. You need to take time and consider where you have come from and where you are going.”

I was disappointed at his words. It had been such a struggle to even GET to him in the first place and now he was refusing. Tears filled my eyes and rolled down my cheeks. I considered turning away but I knew that could be seen as rude so I put my hands to my face and wiped the tears away as I had no handkerchief with me.

“My dear,” he said. “I cannot bear to see the tears flow and not attempt to help. If you follow my instructions carefully you will come to no harm and the baby inside of you will be safe.”

“Baby? You mean all this is a BABY?” She stood there, shocked, trying to take the news in. “I thought I couldn’t have one after cancer.”

“Well,” he said, “mostly not. But some things still happen. So don’t lose hope. Here is the water you need to take and the instructions with it.”

She put the water and instructions into the bag she was carrying with her and looked at him, asking if she would have a boy or girl. He replied that some secrets should still be kept to emphasise the mystery and miracle of the birth and baby. Then he went on to say:

“Now, let little Oakly lead you back to the edge of the forest. But before I let you go Oakly, I wish to put stronger nutrients in your soil because I can see that you have reached maturity and your top canopy of leaves are wilting slightly.” He bent down and stirred something into the soil surrounding her. She thanked him gravely, bowing her top branches as she did so.

Both of them thanked him and bowed again. Then they started to move backwards to return to the forest they had come from.

“Wow!” said Ede. She had no idea of the pregnancy, but knew she didn’t have the strength of body to bring a baby to term and birth without something and this holy water seemed like it could be really helpful.

They came across no issues as they continued back through the forest to Oakly’s family. Her grandparents treated her return as natural and asked who the young friend was accompanying her. “It’s my friend Ede. She’s going to go home now. But I hope she comes back to visit soon. Life is good and I will have a great crop of acorns. We visited the Good Old Man and he helped us.”