FAST FORWARD

There was a light breeze blowing through her hair. It was
gently brushing a few strands across his face. It felt good.

His courage finally up to speed, he asks her, "Will you
marry me?" His heart stopped. He held his breath.

She continued to gaze across the field. Avoiding his eyes.
He could not see the grin slowly moving across her
beautiful face. The breeze helped to calm her. She blinked
her eyes hard.

"Yes"

It was almost a whisper. He could not trust his ears. Did
she say yes? Or what? He had planned this down to the
finest detail. After all, they were in the shade of their
favorite tree, down by the creek. Their creek. He groaned.

She cleared her throat. Did he not hear her? Why did he groan?

"I said YES!"

He grabbed her into his arms. He kissed her face. His heart
started beating. It is good in this shade."

FAST FORWARD

The sounds of children playing could be heard all across the
fields where the tree stood casting its shade on the ground.
It was a game made up by the children. The best kind.

On the blanket the parents sat in vigil over the basket
full of the picnic food and drinks. They held each other in
loving arms. They watched the children play with eyes full
of parental love and pride. A gentle breeze cooled their faces.

Life is good in the shade of the tree.

FAST FORWARD

The man is now middle aged. His back rests against the base
of the shade tree.

"Son, you don't have to do this. Not on my account anyhow."

"I know dad. I have to do this. I've already signed the papers."

"OK, son. But you haven't raised your right hand for the oath."

"I do that in the morning with the others. I want you and mom there."

"Of course we will be there. Just you come back home to us."

"I will."

"I love you son and I'm so proud of you."

Both father and son welcomed the cool of the shade.

FAST FORWARD

The old man stands silently in the shade of the tree. At his
feet is a grave. It's been days since the funeral. All the
others are home now. The headstone stands at the base of the
tree. That way she can see out across the fields.

His heart aches. Real bad. Hot tears are swelling behind his
tightly closed eye. His heart aches real bad.

A small wimper escapes his lips. That opens the door for the
body racking sobs that quickly follow. His heart aches bad.

In the shade of their favorite tree this time the cool breeze
is not even noticed.

FAST FORWARD

The sound of the construction equipment angrily blasted its way
across the fields. Powerful diesel engines with their throaty,
bassy notes. The sharp whacks of hammer against nail. The high
pitch of a circular saw cutting its way through a board.

A worker approaches the shade tree.

"Hey Fred! What about this old tree?"

"What about it!"

"What do we do with it?!"

"Plans say to cut it down!"

"OK!"

The worker starts stompping down the high grass at the base. To get
a good working area for the chain saw. He stumbles over the headstone.

"Hey Fred!"

"What now?!"

"You better see this!"

FAST FORWARD

A man stands at the podium. He is speaking to an assembled crowd.
He is giving a speech. He is the country's best litigation lawyer.

"I was sitting at my desk when the construction supervisor called. It
was not a totally unexpected call. Problems arise on every job."

"But when he described the tree I knew other plans for it had to be
made. For you see, I had forgotten about that tree. I played in its
shade as a boy visiting my grandparents."

"I remember the games we made up. Grandma and Grandpa would just
sit on their blanket and watch us. They always held hands. They always
had a smile. They loved that tree."

"My dad would tell us how Grandpa would chase them around the tree
after a handful of grass was thrown on him by the kids. He said they
would squeal with glee and laughter. Grandpa laughing all the while
while chasing them. Grandma would clap her hands and giggle."

"There was always a cool breeze in the shade of that tree."

"When I started this development project on the land that I inherited
I must confess that I started with a lawyer's heart. Stone. Cold.
Calculating. I wasn't brought up that way. I wasn't taught that by
my parents. And they damn sure weren't taught that by Grandma
and Grandpa."

"That phone call was not by the supervisor. It was the tree calling.
It touched my cold heart. It shouted 'Don't forget that Grandma and
Grandpa are at my feet. Don't forget your little boy memories are
at my feet.'"

"So today I dedicate this park to my family and to our memories, but
especially to the shade tree."

"Walk in its shade. Feel the cool breeze. Let it hold your memories."

"Thank you for coming. Thank you mom and dad. Thank you Grandma and
Grandpa. Thank you tree."

He steps down from the podium. A polite clapping from the crowd.

Children begin to play on the playground equipment. Parents sit on
the park benches keeping vigil. Some where a dog barks.

And a cool breeze blows in the shade of that old shade tree.