The Garden Gate

For many years the garden gate remained hidden. Overtime…ivy discreetly climbed to the top, completely enveloping the cold iron bars. The gate slowly disappeared into the green landscape.

It has been said however that long ago… a little girl did indeed find this timeless treasure. She was meandering through the woods on her way to visit her grandmother. Her grandmother was very old and appreciated her company. She was an only child because her sister passed away. She was very lonely and often spent time talking to herself.

While walking, the little girl noticed a glimmer of light through the trees. “I wonder what that could be?” she asked herself as she raced toward it. When she reached it she began uncovering it by pulling down the sturdy vines.

There was an old-fashioned key hole so she bent down to take a look, and noticed a key on the ground. She picked up the key and used it in the gate.

The gate opened to reveal the most beautiful place she had ever been. Some of the largest trees she had ever seen were within the gate. There were all kinds…some she had never seen before…

One of which caught her attention… It was a picnic basket tree! It had a sign that said “Take one…They’re free!”

They were beautiful baskets made of wood with silver rings to hold them good.

So she gently pulled one down to the ground.

“This will be perfect for grandma and me! Thank you Mr. Picnic Basket tree for giving me this basket for free!” she said gleefully.

As she began to turn around a voice spoke and shook the ground.

“Thank you for coming to visit me! I’ve always been such a lonely tree! I used to have a little friend until our friendship came to an end. She grew up and now you see…I’m just a lonely basket tree.”

“I’ll be your friend until the end!” said the little girl.

“I’ll be back to visit you! Rest assured that we’re not through!”

She took the basket and locked the gate so for her grandmother’s she wouldn’t be late…

She ran and ran as fast as she could all the way through the tall wood. When she reached her grandmother’s place there was a huge smile upon her face…

“Let’s have a picnic! What do you say?”

“I say it sounds great!”

They went inside and sat down, and the little girl looked all around… Far in the corner behind other things, was a picnic basket with two silver rings…