Once upon a time, in the heart of a greenwood forest, there was a community of redwood trees. The giant redwoods stood tall and majestic, kissing the sky and receiving the last kiss from the sun every day at sunset.
Among the towering redwoods, there was a small vine named Ivy. Ivy was not like the other trees in the forest. It was a delicate vine with slender green leaves that danced gracefully in the sunlight. Unlike the trees that could reach the sky independently, Ivy needed the support of the mighty trees to grow and thrive. However, Ivy harbored a dream—a dream to one day touch the sky just like its majestic neighbors.
One sunny day, Ivy gathered its courage and called the majestic redwoods, hoping to make friends. “Hello, dear Redwoods! I am Ivy, and I wish to climb and touch the sky just like you. Will you allow me to climb on your branches?” Ivy asked, its leaves quivering with excitement.
The redwoods laughed at Ivy. “You, little Ivy, wish to climb and touch the sky? That’s absurd! We are the mighty redwoods, and you are just a fragile vine. Know your place, hahah haha,” they scoffed at Ivy. Their voices went echoing through the forest.
Undeterred, Ivy turned away. She was just sad and waving to the little breeze. Then she called the oak trees nearby. “Dear Oaks, I may be small, but I have big dreams. Will you help me climb to the sky?” Ivy asked with hope in its heart.
The oaks, with their broad branches and sturdy trunks, chuckled condescendingly. “You don’t belong up there, Ivy. Stick to what you know—crawling on the ground. The sky is not for the likes of you,” they jeered.
The Redwoods, who were listening, started to laugh at Ivy. Here and there, they scolded Ivy for not being able to stand on her own. They often pretended to cry for Ivy, saying how pityful she was.
A willow oak from quite far away heard all about this bullying. Unlike the majestic redwoods and proud oaks, this willow oak had a kind demeanor and a willingness to listen. So, the willow oak grew one of its branches toward Ivy. It took days, but the willow oak did not stop. Once it got close enough to Ivy the vine, it whispered to Ivy.
“I have been listening to everything since the beginning. I am not that tall after all but I may be able to help you with your dream to see the world from above,” the willow oak said.
Ivy, who was surprised and overwhelmed by the kindness of willow oak, said, “Really? Will you help me?”
The willow oak, with empathy in its eyes, smiled warmly. “Of course, Ivy. Every being, big or small, has its own unique place and purpose in this forest. Climb on my branches, and together, we’ll reach the sky,” it said.
The other trees, witnessing this exchange, couldn’t resist mocking the willow oak for its perceived weakness. “You’re helping that insignificant vine? What a shame for the entire forest!” they taunted. Despite the redwoods’ derision, Ivy and the Willow Oak flourished, their connection growing deeper with each passing day. Time passed, and the once-delicate vine now adorned the willow oak’s branches, stretching toward the sky.
One day, a fierce storm swept through the Greenwood Forest, bringing powerful winds and torrential rain. The once-mighty redwoods, with their towering branches, faced the brunt of the storm. Their branches broke off and didn’t even fall to the ground. Some redwood giants fell down and were uprooted. The proud oaks struggled to withstand the force of the wind. branches were broken and roots were pulled off the ground.
In contrast, the willow oak, with its flexible branches and the intertwined strength of ivy, weathered the storm gracefully. Ivy’s leaves acted as a shield, protecting the willow oak from hitting the wind directly. The willow oak had sturdiness, and the vine had flexibility and a good connection to the ground. The once-bullied ivy had become a source of strength for the willow oak, showcasing the resilience that lies within the seemingly delicate.
After the storm went away, the painful moans of redwoods and proud oaks echoed through the forest. Redwoods and proud oaks were in devastating pain, losing their branches and being pulled off the ground by the wind. While painfully moaning, they noticed that Ivy and the willow oak stood still amid the chaos. They realized that it was ivy and its flexibility that saved the willow oak tree and they realized their wrongdoings.