JUST A BUNCH OF SEEDS

“Lulu, look”

“What, that? It’s just a bunch of seeds, Gus.”

“But Lulu, look, look at how they sort of glitter.”

“How can they glitter? They’re black. Gold glitters. Diamonds glitter. Christmas tree lights. Not radish or watermelon seeds or whatever those are. Come on, Gus. We'll be late for class.

I can’t wait to get home and try on my Halloween costume. I’m going to be a fairy princess. Don't you think I would be a good one? My mom even made me a crown out of shiny gold paper and a wand out of a ruler she painted with silver nail polish.”

“Okay. I’m going to put some of these in my pocket.”

“ Whatever for?”

“Just because. Just to see.”

“Just to see what?”

“To see what happens.“What do you think they’re doing here?”

“What do you mean”?

“I mean, this is a graveyard. Why would someone leave seeds here? Black, shiny seeds on the ground? “

“I dunno, Gus …So a nerd like you could wonder why they’re here and take some home,I guess.”

“Maybe I’ll plant them and make a wish and see what happens. “

“Go for it. Gus, you are such a dreamer. If you need something to take care of, why not ask your mom to get you a dog.”

That night 

“Gus, there’s not much for supper, son. Just leftovers. Now that your father is gone and I have to care for you and your baby sister and…”

“Mother. I can go without dinner. Don’t cry. Look what I found. Look at these.”

“Have you been digging in the dirt? Those are just charcoal covered pebbles. Make sure you wash your hands after handling them. Where did you find them?”

“In the graveyard. I’m going to go back tomorrow and get some more. I think they’re special.”

“What about your Halloween costume, Gus? I'm sorry, we couldn't afford to buy one.”

“Mom, I don’t have to dress up just because all the other kids do. I don't even want to dress up like some stupid superhero. I've got my special seeds. Look how shiny they are; it’s like they are smiling at me.”

Next Day

“Mom, mom, you’ll never guess where my seeds came from.”

“ I give up. Did you do your homework?”

“ They came from under that funny-looking tree with the big pods and pretty flowers in the cemetery. I guess I never noticed it before.””

“Are you sure that's where you were? “

“I KNOW WHAT I SAW, mom! Lulu and I cut through the cemetery every day after school. It must have grown up overnight while we were asleep. It’s magic. I whispered to the seeds before I put them in the ground that if they could turn into a tree, making the cemetery beautiful and bringing us good luck that I would love it forever and bring it water and find birds to sit in its branches. You know, there are spirits that live in trees, that help humans sometimes.. I read that in a book in the library.”

“Oh, Gus, I know you need something of your own to love in your life, but we can’t afford a dog, and a tree is just a tree. Gus. Be serious, son. We need a miracle. But I don't believe in miracles. I may have to sell the only valuable that we have. My harp, my Salvi harp. It was my mother’s, so I am sad to let it go, but go it must”

“Oh no, Mother. You played lullabies on it for me when I was a baby, and Mindy listens to you before she falls asleep, playing “ All the pretty little horses.” 

“Gus, you are only ten years old. You will understand these kinds of sacrifices grown-ups have to make when you are older.”

“Maybe you can keep the harp, and we’ll have food on the table. We won't need to sacrifice.

“This tree is special, mom. Those big pods fall on the ground, and when they open up these shiny magical seeds come out."

“Gus, it sounds like some kind of tropical tree. The kind that grows in Africa or Hawaii, not here in Ohio. Are you just making things up? “

“No, I know what I saw. The tree is my friend, I know it will help us. “

“Let's forget about the tree for now. Can you smell the delicious homemade soup that Aunt Alice brought us? At least tonight, all is right, Gus.”

NEXT DAY  

“Mom, I’m going to plant my seeds tonight, cause it’s Halloween when magical things happen. Witches and ghosts and spirits that live in trees who can work magic are everywhere. I’m going to make a wish for us, for good fortunes.”. 

“Gus, magic isn’t real. Wishing won’t bring us money to put bread on the table. I have the harp and the harp must go. I’m going to the pawn shop tomorrow. But I can still use my voice to sing lullabies to Mindy, so don't you worry.”

THAT NIGHT

“Gus, you didn’t wear a costume. Don’t you want to dress up like a zombie or something cool? Look, do I look like a real fairy queen? 

“That’s nice, Lulu, but I don't need a costume. I wanted the good spirits in the tree to recognize me, Lulu. The spirits are in the black seeds. I asked for some magic.”

“Oh, not that stuff again. “

“I planted the seeds, and I made a wish. I talked to the seeds.I told them I don't want Mother to have to sell her harp. Let’s go look and see what happened.”

“Sure,ok. Well, I bet you there’s nothing to see because it takes forever for a plant, let alone a tree, to grow.

Wow, it is spooky at night here in the graveyard.”

“Follow me. “

“Where did that tree come from? It doesn’t look like it belongs here. It looks like it belongs in the tropics or something. Wow, Gus, look at those flowers.”

“It came from my seeds. The ones I planted. “

“Wow, it looks like it must be a hundred feet tall. 

And it grew overnight! What's wrong, Gus? You look sad. I thought you wanted magic. That sure is magical.”

“Yes, But, it isn’t money to pay the bills. It won’t put bread on the table like my mother said. . I made my wish for good fortune.”

“Is she really going to sell her harp? It is so beautiful, just like the music she lays on it. “

Gus? Don’t be sad. I got an idea.”

“You should put a little fence around the tree with your name on it because it’s here because of you. People will be amazed. Here I’ll help you make a little fence with these sticks and stones. Maybe people passing by will leave little tips, you know, like they do for street musicians.”

The Next Week

“Gus, answer the door,”

“Young man, are you Gus Lamert?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And that is your tree out there in the graveyard, the one with the beautiful pods and flowers?”

“Yes, sir. Did I do something wrong? I just planted some seeds that I found. And the tree grew and grew.”

“I am Mr. Stewart from the International Society of Arboriculture, and we would like your permission to take photographs of the tree and preserve some of its seeds in our vault. For the world to see. For posterity. And it's your good fortune. We’ll pay you for those rights to your tree.”

“Pay me?”

“Son. Yes, we'll pay you and your mother enough to cover all your expenses for the next few years at least.”

“Enough to buy a harp for my mother?”

“Oh, yes , if that’s what you want.”

“And a dog of my own?.”

“ If that’s what you want, son.”

“But, Gus, the society wants to know, how did it come to be? 

Where did it come from? We want to know all about your astonishing discovery. To see this tropical tree here, of all places. It seems like…. Well, like magic.”

Yes, it was magic…but it was just a bunch of seeds.”