Wishtree

by Katherine Applegate

Trees have a rather complicated relationship with people, after all. One minute you’re hugging us. The next minute you’re turning us into tables and tongue depressors.

Hollows are proof that something bad can become something good with enough time and care and hope.

But sometimes things happen that aren’t so good. When they occur, I’ve learned that there’s not much you can do except stand tall and reach deep.

Watching Bongo soar, I considered, not for the first time, my rambling roots. What would it be like to fly? To burrow? To swim? To gallop? Delightful, no doubt. Sheer joy. And yet. I wouldn’t trade a single rootlet for any of it. It is a great gift indeed to love who you are.

friendship doesn’t have to be hard. That sometimes we let the world make it hard.

“It was foolish,” I said. “I’m not supposed to be foolish.” “Not so foolish,” Bongo said. “Just hopeful. And everyone needs to hope, Red. Even Wise Old Trees.”