Tonight’s prompt was to write something from the perspective of a tree about things happening “beneath its branches.”

My take:

“Morning, Irv.”

“Morning, Frank. How’s it hanging?”

“Yeah, that never gets old. So, anything going on below?”

“Nah, just the damned squirrels. I’ve got nuts coming out of my…”

“Hey guys! You up?”

“Aw for the love of… Shirley! How many times have we told you to be quiet while the oaks are speaking?”

“Seriously. Birches should be seen, not heard.”

“You’re just jealous. Anything happening below?”

“Just squirrels.”

“Any of those vertical things wandering around?”

“No, but Fred down by the field was attacked again last week.”

“Stabbed?”

“Yup.”

“Serves him right. Stupid maple.”

“But why do those vertical things want to drink tree pee?”

“Especially from a maple, the lowest of the low?”

“Look, all I know is…”

“Shut up! Verticals approaching!”

“Oh crap. They don’t have one of those loud machines, do they? They cut Francine down last year.”

“Oh no! They’re coming up to me! Irv, help me!”

“I’m trying! I’m releasing distress pheromones as fast as I can.”

“Argh! They’ve sit down at my base. What are they doing? Can anyone see?”

“OK, OK, Shirley, just calm down. I don’t hear any noise yet. Can somebody knock a squirrel off their branch at them maybe?”

“I’m…trying… The damned thing is clinging.”

“So what are they doing? I didn’t see any sharp tools.”

“Well, they seem to have actually laid down between my roots. Together. “

“Are they ambushing us? They do know we can’t run, right?”

“I…I think… I’m not sure, but I think they’re….pollinating.”

“Are you kidding me? Right here? What do I do if their saplings sprout up around my roots?”

“These verticals are a bizarre species, devoid of any common sense.”