Stripped of my branches, Cameron said thank you and began to walk away. This time I told him to come back when he was done. But yet again many years had passed before he stopped by. My trunk was thicker and taller than ever, I had sat through many cold winters with no branches, many scorching summers with no shade and I had repulsed all the surrounding trees and creatures. No one wanted to be with me anymore. I was no longer beautiful and had nothing to offer. Except to the only one who loved me. Cameron. He always needed me. So I sat all alone for years waiting for his return. So again Cameron came back and this time, he had changed so much. There was no more hair left, he was smaller, his back began to arch, and the skin beneath his eyes became flaccid. But I still loved him, and the fact that he kept coming back meant that he loved me too. We changed so much together. We grew together. When he came back I could hardly speak.
“Come, boy!” I whispered, “come and play.”
“I am too old and sad to play” he replied “I want a boat that will take me far away from here. Can you give me a boat?”
Of course I can!
“Cut down my trunk and make a boat then you can sail away and be happy.”
Of course he did. But this time everything was different. He was sailing away. Maybe he’d never come back to me. When he cut down my trunk. He left his initials with me, so i found comfort that if he never came back, i would have a piece of him and know i made him happy. I was happy that he was happy, but I've given everything I have to him. I sat alone until he came back for the last time.
“I'm so sorry boy, but i have nothing left to give you, my apples are gone”
“My teeth are too weak for apples,” said Cameron.
“My branches are gone, you can't swing on them”
“ I am too old to swing on branches”
“My trunk is gone you can not climb either”
“I am too tired to climb,” said the old man .
“I am sorry” i said “I wish i could give you something but i have nothing left i'm just an old stump. I am sorry.”
“I don't need much now, just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired.”
“Well an old stump like me is perfect to sit and rest upon, Come Cameron sit down and rest”
The End.