realdealchris

On one night before Thanksgiving, a shooting star sparkled across the sky. A little raccoon unexpectedly lifted his head up, and followed the dancing light of the comet to a very big and tall Red Cedar tree. This little raccoon is called “Clover”, as his other friends in the forest would call him “Lucky Clover”. Little did Clover know, that Red Cedar he ran into, would become his home for years to come. 

Something about Clover we need to know is that he has a very good friend, a fox called King. Even though King is a female fox, Clover has always seen her as a very strong, independent, and wise, just like a king. King has always seen Clover as someone who always brings luck with him, and sometimes even to others around him, hence King nicknamed him “Lucky Clover”. And later on, we will know more about Clover’s other friends. 

Some of you probably wonder, where did Clover use to live before he ran into this big Red Cedar tree? See, on the south side of the forest, Clover lives in this very old but sturdy Sycamore tree. He spent years building a comfortable home around and on this Sycamore. It was a nice home to him too, even though it was a bit old and run down, he likes living there. Around this Sycamore, he has the river and water he needs. He goes to catch fish in the river to feed himself and sometimes the Sycamore itself often provides food out of nowhere. Clover never wonders or cares much about where all this food comes out of nowhere, though sometimes he felt scared to leave Sycamore too far out of fear of lacking food elsewhere. As “Lucky Clover” would think, he just got lucky to find this Sycamore. He often travels to see his friends on the east side of the forest, or as Clover would refer to “the right side” of the forest.

Now let’s get back to the night Clover meet the Red Cedar. 

This Red Cedar is at the north side of the forrest, and yes, Clover calls it the “upside of forrest”. Clover followed the dimming light of comet, as if Red Cedar just shot a flare gun to the sky, leading Clover to its location. The night was so dark, Clover didn’t seems to check what on and in his path to his destination. He felt the journey was so easy, smooth, like there is no obstacles blocking his way. There was no creeping sound of predators in the forest, no threats, no warnings from other nocturnal friends. Even though the shooting star was only glimpse for Clover, he felt like he can still see the remaining dim lights left in the empty dark sky.

It was so far, yet so soon, Clover arrived to the Red Cedar. He felt confused at first. It’s been years since he seen a Red Cedar. After all, he has been living around the Sycamore and he is afraid to leave Sycamore too far for so long. He has never even been to the north side of the forest. This Red Cedar seem so strange for Clover. It’s so big and tall, and seems in much younger stage of its life.

“Hi… there… little critter”, a deep sound came out of nowhere. Clover got very spooked, but we all know raccoons are a very curious creature. So clover walks around and try to figure out where the sound comes from. Turns out, it’s from Red Cedar. 

Clover was in complete baffle, he never seen a Red Cedar talking, let alone a tree that speaks. 

“Hi! ARE YOU A TREE THAT CAN SPEAK?” Clover looks up the giant Red Cedar, asks with curiosity, excitement, and a bit of nervousness.

“Emmm…yes…”, Red Cedar replied with much hesitation as if it barely knows himself, “It’s been a long time…since any critter came to visit me…not even a raccoon…I like raccoons…”

“OHHHH I am a raccoon!!! and my friends call me Clover, like LUCKY CLOVER!”, Clover is quite happy and over the thrill to see this Red Cedar, after all he hasn’t seen one, a talking one for years.

Red Cedar seems very shy and quiet. It just stood there, thinking. It looks like Red Cedar really wants to make friends with Clover, but have no idea how to say it out loud. As smart as a raccoon, Clover sensed Cedar’s hesitation, so Clover asked “Do you want me to come back and visit you? I never had a tree friend that can talk!”

“You…I’m so tall and far away…you don’t mind to…come visit and climb up to talk?” Red Cedar asked nervously.

“NOT AT ALL! You are a very interesting and nice tree friend to talk to!” Clover waves his paws and jumps upside down, as if he really want to reassure Red Cedar he would be a good friend to visit. 

As night start to get quieter and darker, Clover realized he needs to head back to Sycamore before it gets too late. So he decided to leave and head home. As Clover leaves, he snatched out some of his fur, rubbed on his belly, left it the trunk of red Cedar. And he turned around, waved again at Red Cedar, “I will come back tomorrow! “Goodnight, my new tree friend!”