Daily Flash Fiction Challenge

I sat on my bed with the letter in my hand as the weeping willow tree outside my bedroom window rustled in the wind. It could both sing its song with the breeze and block my view of the atrocious house next door. A win-win. Maybe the house didn’t have broken windows or wasn’t otherwise dilapidated, but it was still atrocious. Because in that house lived Rodney Brickle. And he was dreadful.

He had a shock of orange hair that was just as gaudy as he was. If he was outside when I returned home, he would make tasteless comments about what I was wearing or chastise me and my friends. That tree helped me pretend that I lived in a great forest, miles away from another human and that Rodney Brickle didn’t exist. I loved that tree.

But now that tree was in danger of being removed. Rodney Buckle’s letter stated that this wonderful tree is a “spite” tree, deliberately blocking his view.

I was so mad. I got up and opened the window. “Rodney!” I yelled. No answer.

“Rodney!” I screamed and banged on the window frame.

“Sandy? Where are you. I can’t see you. That tree…” Rodney taunted.

“You are insufferable! What you are doing is spite, not the tree!” I wailed.

“Blocks my view, my light. It’s got to go,” he said.

“Your view of what? Me? That’s so creepy!”

“Maybe if you invited me over sometimes, I wouldn’t have to try and see what’s going on,”

“Eww, really,” I said slamming the window shut. I dialed my mom’s number. “Mom! Rodney sent me a letter to get rid of my tree. Tell him to stop!”

“Pfft!” she exclaimed, annoyed. “Sandy Brickle, you and your brother need to learn to get along!” And she hung up.


WC300