Crickett Helps the Tree Giants

After Crickett learned about Grover, the Tree Giant and his mate Ahvi from her friend Chipper, the squirrel, she has wanted nothing more than to meet the Tree Giants so she can help them. Granted she heard their story less than twenty-fours hours ago but it seems like it has been a lifetime. When she woke the following morning all she wanted to do was run outside so she could meet the Tree Giants as soon as possible but a thunderstorm had rolled in. It ended up keeping everyone inside most of the day. When they did venture out in the rain it was a quick trip so Crickett could go potty. Crickett doesn’t like getting drenched but she then doesn’t like the thunder either so she goes potty as quickly as possible. Then they all run back inside before they can get soaked to the bone. That had been a very long day for them all but especially for Crickett. She spent most of her day wandering around the house aimlessly, looking out the front door or napping. At some point during the long day she managed to make her parents laugh when they saw her with her head propped up on the arm of the love seat looking like she was either contemplating life or very bored. Truthfully it may have been a little bit of both but mostly she longed to go outside to visit the Tree Giants.

Thankfully the following morning did dawn bright, beautiful and warm. They wake early to head outside so Crickett can potty and they can do a couple of laps around the block before breakfast. After being stuck inside a good chunk of the day before, Crickett and her parents are raring to go. The morning is so warm and beautiful they decide to do an extra couple of laps to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air a little longer.

After doing their laps and eating breakfast it is time for her daddy to go to work for the day. So off he goes with a pat on Crickett’s head and a peck on his wife’s cheek. Then Crickett and her mommy get ready to go across the street so Crickett can play and her mommy can do a little writing and some reading. With everything in hand and Crickett’s leash attached to her collar they head outside to the field behind their house. Crickett’s mommy walks to her favorite spot and spreads out her blanket on the slight slope that allows her to see Crickett while she plays, at least for the most part. When her mommy is happy with the spot and has the blanket just right she undoes Crickett’s leash allowing her free reign to run and play.

As soon as Crickett is free, she runs as fast as she can to the beautiful old elm tree across the field from where her mommy is writing. It makes her feel rather special that Grover and Ahvi would want to live in their neighborhood. It is a nice quiet neighborhood though so it makes sense they’d want to stay. When she reaches the base of the tree she looks up through to branches and leaves trying to see the Tree Giant’s face among the greenery and bark. She can’t make anything out but she smiles up at him none the less then with a bow says, “Good day Grover. I am Crickett. I live at the end of the block in the white house. I am very glad to meet you.” With that she rises to sit on her tushy and look over at where Ahvi, Grover’s mate, is standing. She can see why Grover fell in love with her, she is a very beautiful Tree Giantess. Crickett really wants to go say hello but the street is between her and Ahvi and she is not allowed to cross the street by herself. Instead she goes as far as she can and as respectfully as she can call over to the Tree Giantess. “Hello Ahvi. I am Crickett. I am very glad to meet you. I am sorry for yelling but my parents don’t allow me to cross the street by myself. I will return though with Chipper, my best friend and we will both say a proper hello.” Crickett knows deep down that her parents would not consider having Chipper with her when she crosses the street as not crossing alone but she has to cross without them to help the creatures that dwell in their neighborhood. While her parents are with her though she follows the rules and stays a good distance from the road.

After greeting the Tree Giants Crickett decides to run as fast as she can from one end of the field to the other which makes her mommy giggle when she sees her. After a few laps Crickett collapses in the cool grass close to the edge of the little hill before it drops off into the creek below. Crickett enjoys watching the tiny fish swim in the water and the frogs all covered in mud. There has been more than one occasion where she has scared the little frogs into the water, it makes her smile when they chirp before hopping into the water. It's almost like they are scolding her for disturbing their relaxation. She feels bad but she can’t really help it.

She feels herself dozing as she lays with the sun on her back and the cool grass and soil under her watching the tiny fish swim around. She stirs sometime later when she hears someone call her name. It sounds so far away and doesn't sound like it’s coming from her mommy. When she hears it again she opens her eyes and looks around for whoever may be calling her name. When she looks over at Grover she sees something that amazes her, he is waving at her with one of his leafy branches. Excited, she jumps up and begins running over to him then she remembers her mommy and looks over at where she is sitting. Crickett’s mommy is still sitting on her blanket writing away taking no notice of the massive tree that has come alive. Confused Crickett cocks her head at her mommy. She doesn’t understand why her mommy doesn’t notice the tree moving, it’s big and kinda hard to miss. Then she hears a voice, the one that had been calling to her, speak, “Your mommy doesn’t notice because you are still asleep down by the creek. Crickett we are visiting while you sleep.” Sure enough when Crickett looks back at the spot she had been sleeping she is still there out like a light.

She looks back at Grover, nods her understanding and continues running to him. When she arrives seconds later she is out of breath but very happy to be talking to Grover, an actual Tree Giant. As she sits under the tree Grover simply says, “You know Crickett I wouldn’t change a thing.” Then he tells her of all the adventures he and Ahvi had been on as well as about all their saplings. She realizes then that this is not a dream but that the Tree Giant is actually talking to her in her sleep. As Grover tells his tales she can’t help but be happy and before she knows it she is drifting further into sleep.

Before she falls too far into sleep and can’t talk to Grover anymore she says, “Grover, I promise that I will think of a way that you and Ahvi can touch again. I’m not sure how but I will do my very best.” Grover can’t help but smile down at the little dog. He knows that she has a kind and generous heart and believes that she will try her best. “She is such a sweet dog. I’m sure she’ll think of something.” He thinks as she begins to fade deeper into sleep.

As Crickett sleeps, she dreams about all the adventures that Grover had told her about. As if she were there with him living each moment of his long life with Ahvi and their saplings. When she wakes she smiles brightly at her new friends and is convinced more than even that she has to find a way to help them. After getting to her feet she takes a big stretch then races over to her mommy so they can go inside to see if it’s lunchtime for her daddy.

After lunch Crickett is outside sunbathing when she hears the familiar sound of little feet above her and sitting on her tushy she looks up to see that Chipper is staring back down at her. With a wave of his little paw he scurries down the tree and sits next to Crickett out of view of her mommy. When he is comfy Crickett excitedly tells him about her visit with Grover earlier as she had slept, “It was the coolest, most excitingest thing ever. He told me all about himself and Ahvi, the adventures they went on and all of their saplings. I know I just have to find a way to help them.” She stops for a few moments to take a breath and think a little. She can’t seem to think of anything, she is completely stumped. She decides to ask Chipper if he has any ideas, “Do you have anything?” When he shakes his head Crickett lays back down with her head resting on her paws feeling a little sad but still determined as ever to help her new friends.

They stay laying in the shade of their favorite tree in Crickett’s backyard until Crickett's daddy comes outside after work. At the sound of the knob turning Chipper moves to hide behind the tree so that Crickett’s parents won’t see him and after a quick goodbye Crickett runs to greet her daddy. She is so excited to see him that she yowls at him and hops up and down at his feet for him to pick her up. Of course when he tries to pick her up she runs away and does zoomies around the yard in her excitement.

After greeting each other her parents sit down and watch their little dog run around the yard and laugh as she does. “She always gets such a funny look on her face as she does her zoomies.” Joshua says to his wife. Sonya agrees then they fall into a comfortable silence as they watch their little dog wear herself out. It only takes a few more minutes then she flops down under the tree in the cool grass to doze until dinner time.

That night as she sleeps she finds herself once again in the field behind her house and talking to Grover. As they talk an idea pops into Crickett’s head. She's so excited she begins to run around Grover and yip in happiness. “I’ve got an idea!” She repeated as she ran around Grover in her excitement. When she stops a moment or two later she continues speaking out of breath but still excited, ” What if I sit up really tall and you touch the top of my head with one of your branches putting all the love you have for Ahvi into the touch. Then once you're done I run over to Ahvi and let her touch me where you did. Then she does the same thing and I run back to you. It may not be a physical touch but you can both touch the spot where the other did and feel the love the other is sending.” Crickett says then takes off again. In excitement but mostly she’s a little nervous about what Grover will think of her idea. She knows it is silly but she hasn’t had any other idea.

Grover watches his little friend run around his trunk and can’t help but smile. The idea is a good one considering the distance he is from his Ahvi. He will take what he can get and he’s sure Ahvi will too. “Crickett. I think it’s a brilliant idea. Can we try it now?” Grover says to Crickett and at his words she stops mid run which causes her to trip over her feet and sends her rolling down the hill. When she stops she gets up as quick as she can, gives herself a shake then heads back to Grover, at full speed.

“I’d be honored to try it now.” She replies then moves to the high part of the hill and sits up as tall as she can so that Grover can touch her on the head. When she is as high as she can get and still comfortable a branch descends as Grover bends forward. She watches the branch coming towards her very slowly. She’s sure that being such a big tree makes moving quickly hard plus Grover doesn’t want to hurt her so he has to be very careful. She stops looking at the branch just before it reaches her but feels it as the bark scratches her head and the leaves tickle her as they brush her head and ears. As much as she wants to squirm and giggle from the tickles she stays as still as he can until Grover is ready for her to go over to Ahvi.

When he finishes a few minutes later Crickett giggles and says, “That tickled.” Then takes off running to go to Ahvi. When she arrives across the street, looking both ways before she crosses it even in her sleep, she stops beneath Ahvi and says, “Excuse me Ahvi? I am Crickett from the white house at the opposite end of the block. I am here to help you and Grover.” She looks up at the tree the Tree Giantess resides in and as she watches she sees a face appear as it had with Grover.

“Hello little one. It is nice to meet you. How are you going to help us?” Ahvi asks, very curious. Ahvi looks down at the tiny little dog and smiles. She has heard about Crickett’s kindness and seen for herself how much the dog loves every creature in their neighborhood. She has no doubt that Crickett will do her very best to help anyone that is in need.

Crickett tells Ahvi what she had told Grover and Ahvi smiles the same way Grover had. Without another word Ahvi lowers her own branch and touches Crickett on the head exactly where Grover had moments before. As Crickett watches, Ahvi closes her eyes and takes a deep breath while she touches Crickett’s head.

When Ahvi is finished she looks over at Grover and says, “I love you my darling.” Then places her branch on Crickett’s head sending as much love as she can through her branch and into the spot on Crickett’s head. When she is finished she raises to her full height and thanks Crickett for her help.

Crickett goes back and forth for some time that night and would do so every night that they ask her to. While she may not be able to move the trees so they can physically touch, she feels that by doing this one small little thing she is in some way allowing them to pass on their love to each other. She knows that they are putting all of their love for each other into each and every second of each and every touch because she can feel their love coursing through her body. It’s as if she is holding it for them until the love can be passed to the other.