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Tilly and The Arbol Tree

Lucy was the last Griffin to light the Arbol Tree and that was over a century ago. The Arbol tree has been good to the people of Meiland, with its aquatic borders and intimate population of five distinct tribes, each made of five ancient families. The Arbol Tree glows bright green throughout the year, taking only one night of rest. The light of the Arbol Tree warms and nurtures the soil, alternates and regulates the weather, and produces the Arbol Fruit. The Arbol’s red seeds, green leaves, pink flowers, yellow to orange fruit, and even its violet bark are used in all Meiland meals and because of this, the people remain youthful and spirited until they greet their long sleep.

On the day the Arbol Tree fizzles out and takes up rest, the Meiland people hold a splendid celebration. The Griffins have provided the silk ribbons for the festival for as long as anyone can remember. With infants dressed as round plump fruits, unpromised youth adorned with leaves, mated couples donning pink flowers over their hearts, and revered elders wrapped in violet shrouds, the entire island marches through streets draped with red ribbons and lit candles burning with white flames.

The Griffins had once been the highest respected family of the Textile tribe. When Lucy was given the honor to light the Arbol Tree, she had won over the Council of Favor by presenting each member with hand stitched silk scarves with detailed Arbol Trees embroidered from one end to the other. No matter the style in which the scarves were worn, the Arbol Tree was always front and center. All few remaining Council members from that time still donned their scarves while those who’ve greeted their long sleep have had them sealed in glass and put on display in their memory. Not since Lucy has any Tree Lighter, especially not a Griffin, impressed the Council of Favor as much or had such a lasting legacy.

Tilly, in her mind, was a lot like Lucy. She too was a silk-shaper, the youngest in history to take on the craft in a professional capacity. Unlike Lucy, Tilly did not yet have a grand plan or idea to win over the Council of Favor, but she was determined that she would light the Arbol Tree and restore the Griffin family to a place of honor. Tilly toyed with ideas such as silk hats decorated with Arbol fruits and sashes painted with Arbol flowers, but she knew these were ideas that had been done before by other members of her tribe. No; Tilly needed to come up with something new, something that had never been done before, and something that would depict the Arbol Tree in the best light throughout the year, and hopefully throughout time.

The day of the Grand Celebration was a busy one. All five tribes gathered to show off their crafts and share meals and entertaining performances before settling down to meet with the Council of Favor just before midnight. Tilly spent most of her day wrapping ribbons around infant’s heads, unpromised’s wrists, mated’s lapels, and elder’s necks. This was the first year she didn’t join the other unpromised in circle dances or street chanting. No; Tilly wouldn’t celebrate too much. She was too busy keeping a close eye on her offering to the Council and storing up the courage to present it to them.

At the gathering of the Council, Tilly sat near the back, not yet ready to reveal her offering. She had not even proclaimed to her tribe she would be making an offering. The Griffins hadn’t presented an offering in twenty years and the Textile tribe had forgotten to present the previous year, too busy and consumed with making and preparing ribbons for the Grand Celebration.

The Planter tribe presented the Council with decorated packages of delicious rainbow grains with preparation instructions included. The Ore tribe brought smiles to the Council member’s faces when they presented ruby lapel pins carved to look like the Arbol seed. Tilly knew it would be difficult to top that. The Construct tribe presented golden door handles shaped like the Arbol Fruit and the Game tribe presented roasted Meiland; the elusive fish for which the island was named. Before the Council could gather to decide who to grant the honor too, Tilly stepped forward, dragging a large bundle behind her. She proclaimed that the Griffins of the Textile tribe would present an offering.

In a flurry, Tilly began to pull strips of silk, satin, lace, and more from her bundle, dancing around the gathered crowd, folding, bending, twisting, and stitching with fervor. The spectacle of the flying fabric and dancing colors delighted the crowd and brought cheery smiles to the faces of the Council members. When at last Tilly had completed her dance, before each member of the Council stood a miniature Arbol Tree with red seeds inlaid at the roots, a violet trunk supporting green leaves, pink flowers, and yellow fruit. Tilly received a standing ovation.

The Head Council Member stepped toward Tilly with a golden candle bearing the white flame and bid her blessings as she faced the Tree. Taking the candle in hand, Tilly approached the Tree and gazed up at its seemingly unending height before stepping through its thick dry branches and disappearing from sight. Moments later, the Arbol was ablaze, crackling and sparkling; slowly fading into an emerald glow.
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FCA- 904-words- Tilly and The Arbol Tree 2018 Copyright © Toinette J. Thomas

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