1/4/12
Boris made his way to Ursula. He nuzzled up against her trunk.
“Ursula, I’ve spent the entire season with you. I’ve enjoyed our conversations, and the nourishment you’ve provided for me. I wish there was a tree like you on my home planet, but there’s not. And I was thinking, maybe you’d like to see my home planet.”
“Oh my,” Ursula replied, “That is such a grand request. Trees don’t really move very well, and well, how would you transport me, and my roots?”
Boris replied, “Us bears are used to transporting living objects in space. I will bring some friends to uproot you. We have sufficient space in our space ship. You’ll find the climate on my planet to be very similar to yours. Only, I can stay with you more often and keep you company.”
“Boris, you have made me so happy, of course I will go with you.”
“Great, you won’t regret it. I will send my friends tomorrow night to uproot you and put you into the space ship.” Said Boris.
And in the middle of the night, Boris and his other bear friends came through the grove. Ursula’s father Victor was weeping.
“Try not to miss me dear father, you knew that someday we might be apart.” Ursula said.
“I just hope that you are happy on this new planet, and that Boris will give you everything you need.”
Boris interjected, “She will love it there. The sun is beautiful and bright, and the soil rich and hearty. I promise she will be happy.”
And they uprooted Ursula, and put her in a wagon, ready to be transported to Boris’ home.
The next morning, when the farmer noticed his prized Gala apple tree had been uprooted, he presumed it had been stolen by another farmer wanting to mimic the success of Ursula. He of course called the police to file a report of stolen property. However, the police would never find the tree, as Ursula was already well on her way to her new home.
When they arrived, Boris promptly planted her in the ground, gave her water and a healthy dose of plant food. The rays of the sun warmed Ursula’s leaves, and the sky was a beautiful orange. As the sun set, Boris nuzzled up to her, and she felt at home. A few remaining apples were on her coat, and Boris carefully ate the apples, saving the seeds for the promise of more life on his planet.
Boris continued to be kind to her for the remainder of his planet’s fall. However, after Ursula had nothing left to give, his mind began to wander. Bears do love their travel, and he was having the itch to roam through the universe again.
“Ursula, my friends would like to travel to another planet, to try and bring you back more companion trees. We will only be gone during the winter.”
Leaving Ursula little choice, she complied. The winter on Boris’ planet was not nearly as harsh as upper Michigan, but it was lonely for her. She waited in anticipation for the spring and for Boris’ return. She had no idea how long the spring would last on this new home, but she blossomed, ready to produce a healthy batch for Boris.
What felt like spring turned into what certainly must have been summer. The skies were orange almost all day long. Ursula began to become despondent over her situation. She was far away from friends and from her love. There was no Boris in sight. She wept that entire summer, with nothing but her own thoughts to keep her company.
And as fall came, the apples grew, but they were small, and sour. Without the love of her family or the love of Boris there was no reason to try. Boris had taken what little was left of her.
And as the fall came to a close Boris returned. “Ursula, my darling, how have you been?”
Ursula broke down, “Not so well, I’ve been so lonely on this planet with nothing to do and no one to speak with all summer.”
Boris replied, “I am so sorry, but as you can tell, I have been busy traveling. I see at least you are able to produce those delicious apples here.” He reached his nose to the ground, and sampled a small, sour green apple, and almost immediately spit it out.
“What are these? These are nothing like what you created at home.”
“I’m sorry Boris, but I was so sad that it was hard for me to focus on creating what you love the most. You see, I gave you everything I had, I gave up my home and my family all for you. And I’ve felt so alone.”
“I see, I’m so sorry.” Boris replied, “I will never leave you lonely again. I will go back to earth and find you some companion trees.”
And almost instantly he left, and never returned. Ursula remained on the planet her life. But with nothing left to give, she certainly had no one wanting to give her the company she needed. She slowly withered away with the understanding of why the planet of bears could never keep an apple tree.
888 words complete for today. Short of the goal, but a story complete.
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