The first tree ever that grew had a song to be sung
The darkness of the night had gone and the light of a new day shone through the window into Sham’s bedroom . In the room opposite his father called out ,
“Sham lets go . its breakfast time “
He took Toby Woby and went outside the room where his parents were waiting and then they all went down the stairs together and sat down at the table . Morning sunlight streamed through all the windows of the dining and they say there absorbing the new day ,
Mrs Mc Dermott called out from the kitchen.
“Good morning , good people “
“Good morning, Mrs McDermott :”
Came the reply .
Then she brought over breakfast on a small wooden trolley to their table “
“Mumm that smells nice Mrs McDermottt “
“Help yourselves and enjoy “.
The aroma of a full Irish breakfast wafted through the air with a hearty and delicious , taste , clinging to the ceiling , caressing the walls , teasing the taste buds and finally uncovering the aroma with a feast for the eye with an array of cooked food .
On the trolley there were scrambled and fried eggs, rashers of bacon, sausages baked tomatoes, fresh mushrooms, white and black pudding and potato farls . There was treacle farls , barnbrek and small white and brown loaves .
She left the breakfast trolley beside their table and went back into the kitchen while they ate .
Shep walked in and sat down near Sham at the table and said , .:
‘Good morning, Sham , those sausages smell great Don’t they “
“ The proof is in the tasting Shep .“
Sham secretly slipped a sausage to Shep.
All the clocks in the dining room started to chime 7 O’clock . Everyone smiled and in all the din there was a funny kind of morning magic.
“I love this crazy place” Mrs Greenacre said.
.
“It’s a slice of paradise “ Mr Greenacre said .
“It’s magic. ” Sham said.
Suddenly the ticking of all the clocks stopped and time stood still .
Toby Woby said ,
‘This looks exciting Sham.“
“Fear not, you are in a space between worlds. “
A voice said .
“Who are you ?” Sham asked.
“I am the unknown one , from no where in time ?”
Came the reply and Sham said,
“Well , nice to meet you . My name is Sham . Can you tell me what is happening ?”
“Nothing is going on Sham. This is place is a shadowland of nowhere where you are suspended just for a moment “
“Why am I here”.
Sham asked and the voice replied .
“To listen and observe. Everything that you see here is transitional”.
Different characters passed by Sham . Some of them he knew as Santa Claus , the Easter bunny , the tooth fairy and others as well that he had a vague memory of .
.The voice said ,
“ These images you see reside in the shadowlands as well as in nowhere . They are allowed to leave this space on some occasions to fulfil a mission in your world .”
Overhead streaks of different coloured light appeared . They passed through and then they disappeared somewhere beyond
“The lights you see are ideas and thoughts . They’re on a journey ” The voice said .
There was music and other sounds all around and the voice said ,
“Your gifts have been increased during your visit here in the shadowlands. You will return here again Sham but for now goodbye.”
In that moment everything had disappeared and the sound of all the clocks began ticking away again.
“There’s a flower festival on here in Chapters End “
“Yes , I heard . Maybe we should go and have a look at that today. “
As Sham’s parents were talking Mrs McDermott made her way from the kitchen and said ,
“ The festival of flowers is always worthwhile having a look at. It’s part of the national Lunasa time festival where single girls go off to pick wildflowers to give to the men of their choice ., They say it’s a perfect for finding romance and a new life .”
Somebody came knocking at the door . Shep started barking and doing his home security thing . Mrs McDermott opened the door to find a young girl there .
“Hello there , how can I help ? “ Mrs McDermott said ,
“Actually, I’m the one who has come to help you “ The young girl replied .
Then she ran into the house and started scattering flower’s petals from her satchel bag everywhere she went . Upstairs and downstairs she ran , singing a little song on her way , .
“Something old, something new , seeds a plenty to sew , in the forests and fields the wildflowers have grew. Feel the love that is there, there’s a chance for romance come with me , now’s the time , for us to sing and dance .”
Mrs Mc Dermott started laughing and clapping her hands and she urged the Greenacre family to follow the young girl who went skipping out the door and along the street . The Greenacres following behind as did some locals . Everyone gathered behind a street parade . There were horses pulling floats with musicians playing music . The parade made it way through the village to an open field where a stage had been set up . Already a small audience had sat down on some fold up chairs in front of the stage . The man at the microphone said.
“ Welcome one and all here to this year’s festival of the flowers . It’s a time to dream of the things we have never seen . It’s a time set sail on board ships to sail the sky on a voyage with a crew we never knew before . We have the chance to ride away on the waves to find new lands where fiends are green . We are young and we are old but just for now let us listen to the dialect of the ancients .”
Everyone applauded as a group of traditional musicians took the stage and played a set of tunes that had everyone mesmerised . There were entertainers there who had come from all over that land to entertain for free all the people who were there to celebrate the festival of flowers .
All over the country at this time of year festivals were happening everywhere. The festivals provided musicians and poets , storytellers and dances an opportunity to bring new melodies and stories from village to village . For many generations the festivals were part of a musical heritage and for centuries audiences have been treated to a wonderful mix of entertainers who play for free to the audiences that are there . Many believe that the influence of all the music and dance that is shared during festival time has crept deep into the soil and nurtured the seeds they were sewn and in turn have formed a beautiful arrangement of wildflowers and sweet fruit on all the stems and trees over all the land. From the past to the present the expression of ancient songs has bee3n translated and recognised with all the people . It makes for a better future and that is the reason why these festivals will continue to survive . If anything is worth its salt then the taste of life will always be sweet .
All that day the Greenacres sat and enjoyed the free entertainment that was provided , the experience was exciting and mystical . They felt connected with all the audience as the bands played their reels and jigs with a rare passion that exploded on stage capturing the moment with wonder with original inspirations in music and song . The performances were hauntingly ethereal and appreciated as the day progressed . After the show finished everyone went back to their homes much wealthier for the experience .
In the twilight people walked along hand in hand and linking each other with an innocence of a love for life . Sham and his parents felt part of that and walked among the crowd through the village .By the time they got back to the guesthouse they were hungry and looking forward to what Mrs McDermott had cooked . She had already anticipated there return and greeted them as they walked in the door ,
“Well now , tell me , how did you all like the festival ?”
“Oh, it was just wonderful Mrs McDermott . We have never been to anything like that before . We all loved it .”
Replied Mrs Greenacre and Mrs Mc Dermott smiled and spoke .
”We have many festivals here in Chapters End you know but I’m sure you all must be famished . I have some corned beef and cabbage that has just been cooked properly for your satisfaction and some potatoes mashed with a little secret of mine so, when you’re already just get sated and I’ll bring it to the table for you .
Eventually the day came to an end as Mrs McDermott cleared the table and the Greenacres made their way up the stairs to their bedrooms .
Sham’s p[aren’t gave him a big hug and said ,
“Have a good sleep son”.
“Goodnight Mum and Dad” said Sham as he went into his bedroom .
The sound of the waves came filtering through into his room from the ocean and the
wind whispered softly melodies to him then he heard the echo of a voice calling out.
to him .
“Come won’t you come to the land where your dreams come from , for its there that.
you’ll find a place where you belong “
He out on his soft shoes and went down the stairs in a trance and he walked up the
street to the storyteller’s cottage . In he went to the room and pushed the treasure
chest away from the trapdoor and he opened it up and climbed down the ladder to the bottom . Down the corridor to the door and then beyond he went to explore .
On the other side of the door, he saw a hare sitting there on a road with green fields on either side .
The hare said ,
“Hello there . I’m wondering if you ‘re out to hunt the hound “
Sham replied ,
“ Hello there Mr Hare . My name is Sham and I've always kind of heard that it’s the hound that hunts the hare .“
“Well not around here , you see , in this place , it’s the hare that chases the hounds , so best you take care now , because you just might find a hare to beware of , if you know what I mean Sham “
Sham replied.
‘Well Mr Hare if you would do me the favour of sharing the hunt with you, I’d be most grateful to come along and watch how you hunt the hound , if you’d mind “
The Hare replied.
“See the thing is Sham . I’m a little bit crafty like and it’s a terrible thing because I’m not actually a hare at all , so you better beware of a hare like me “
Sham said ,
‘So, if you’re not a hare , then what would you be ?.”
The hare replied ,
‘Well, you see , take a closer look at me “
As Sham took a step closer the hare jumped up in the air and turned into a funny looking little man wearing a green suit , with black boots in his feet and a tall green hat upon his head .The little man started to dance around and around , faster and faster until he stopped with a whoosh that went to a shush and he said ,
“ The name is Sean, I’m the lucky leprechaun, so all is not what you see “
Sham replied ,
“It’s nice to know you Sean. First I thought you were a hare.”
“That’s the thing Sham . It’s a trick , I give them hounds all a right old fright every time I go out on a hunt . They never expect me to chase them but I do and they always get a surprise when they see who I really am . “
“So are you going on a hare hunt now ?
Sham asked and the leprechaun replied
“Actually no, I’m going on another kind of hunt . ‘I’m hunting for the singing tree , would you like to come with me ?”
Sham said ,
‘Ok lets go ”
Down the road they walked until they came to a flight of steps that went down deeper and deeper into an underground zone . Sham and Sean descended three flights of stairs until the came to a tall circular wall made of polished marble .
Sean said ,
“I’m the lucky leprechaun and the only one who knows where the singing tree is. Look and see over there, a green jungle , encased by this wall . Well in that jungle is the singing tree and that is where we are going Sham . I’m also the only one who knows how to get there without being seen.’’
The wall that surrounded the jungle played computerised music for no one to hear . The music was being continuously piped through speakers that were built into the wall . The sound of that was amplified by transformation station that conducted out sound lasers into turbines all around walls perimeter . The energy that was made provided an endless feed of power to the irrigation supply feed chain that fed a constant drip line of zap liquid for all the trees within the jungle in the sanctuary of the marble walls . There were 4 doorways to the jungle zone that were monitored closely by O zone war lords and zone O green keepers.. Each of the entrance doors had also surveillance cameras with movement censors to keep out all unwanted visitors . Sean pointed his finger to a secret hatch in the ground door that had a slide Shute to a tunnel that made its way to the jungle zone .
“Let’s go Sham , this is where the celebration of life as we know began .Apart from me you will be the only other person to have seen the singing tree and all of the life there that parades and dances while the tree is singing and drinking zap juice everyday .Its a party all the time there Sham “.
“ Is this place where life began ? “
Sham asked
“That what I’ve been told “
Sean replied .
“So its protected in case someone might want to destroy it ?
Sham asked and Sean replied ..
“To the best of my knowledge , the biggest worry is that someone might someday want to remove the singing tree and that would end all life as we know it “
”So the singing tree is the source of all life “
“Sure indeed it is and no one except you and me know that and we soon see and hear the tree sing for ourselves Sham “
The underground tunnel came to the perimeter of the east wall where above O zone war lords patrolled ,. Then shortly after that they went through the walls at the northern perimeter that was patrolled above by Zone O green keepers .
Now they stood directly underneath the singing tree
Sean pushed a lever that open a hatch to a staircase that went up to a door on the surface . Shams inquisitive mind was eagerly awaiting to see the singing tree . .
Sean stopped for a moment and said ,
“We are almost at the surface . On the other side of the door is a place like no other where you will see the singing tree , who will know we are there . Be true to any question the tree will ask you , be one with everything around you and there is nothing to fear from any creature that you will see there” .
Sean opened the door and they both walked out into a bright light flashing in the distance ahead . The light came from a golden ball above their heads . It was shinning down there on a green tree that stood alone on the ground .
Sham and Sean made their way over there . As they drew near they could hear a soft warm voice singing , almost in a fusion with the sounds of birds and other creatures singing and making sounds like a choir . The tree lifted its branched and some fruit fell to the ground .Then the tree said ,
“Help yourself to the good fruits , my gift to you , ”
Sean and Sham took the fruits and as they ate they found the sweetest taste they had ever had .
“Thank you for sharing your fruits , singing tree”
Around the bottom of the tree was a pool of water . It was clear and very inviting .
The tree said
“Try the zap juice at my feet “
They both threw themselves down and started to drink .
Then the tree said
‘So tell me , are you friend or foe ?”
,
“We come in peace to see and hear you sing ?”
Said Sham
“Who are you ?” The tree asked
“I am Sham , the seventh son of a seventh son “ came the reply .
“I have already met you Sean the lucky leprechaun . So you are here for a song as well ?
The tree said and Sean replied .
”Singing tree I have been here before and yes I need to hear your voice again”
The tree responded
;I am the first and the last of all living species on the planet and for you both I will sing a song of love .”
The golden ball shone brighter and it turned around and around .
Sean and Sham sat down on the ground as the singing tree began softly to sing the song of love
.
“Some say there’s nothing , nothing that’s older than time , but I know
Something , something that’s older than time , it’s a thing called love , love is older than time . Love has always , been there in the universe , its makes everything work for what its worth . Love sweet love , was here before time on the earth , it will and always will be the force of the universe . “
As the tree sang many creatures from the sky and under the ground came . They ate and drank zap juice and fruits .The tree stopped singing and said
“I’ve watched things change through time and over the years I’ve seen how man has lived and I’ve known everything mankind has done to the planet . The green forests have been transformed into wasted lands and into dust . Many things have been destroyed and life on the planet is retreating , I am trying my best to maintain all life because I am the life that remains ”
Sean went over and waded through the pool of water under the tree and
the tree bent down and lifted him up into its branches . Sean burst out laughing and a small bird appeared to mimic the sound of his laughter . Then the singing tree said
“Hello my little lucky leprechaun , I know you have never done any harm to any living thing . You are sometimes mischievous but in an innocent way ., I am happy to see you again “
‘ I missed your voice singing tree It so lovely to hear you sing . Please forgive those who harm life on the planet . Is there any hope at all for new life in the future ?.“
“There is a choice man has to make my little friend . The choice is to nurture and protect all life and to turn away from destroying life . If man does this then there is some hope for the future ” .
Sham and Sean thanks the tree and left the way they had come .
Once again they walked along the road to the place where they had first met .
They looked around at their surroundings that frequently changed as they walked along the road , over boulders and rubble that lay scattered and then it began to get cold but they kept walking along until they came to a door where they said goodbye with a wish that there would be new hope and a better future for all human kind .
Everything looked and felt the same as Sham made his way up the ladder to the storytellers cottage where he put back the treasure chest over the trapdoor .
He left the cottage and walked down the street to the guesthouse and went quietly up stairs and into his bedroom . He looked out the window them took Toby Woby and got under the blankets and fell fast asleep .
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