I didn t dwell in the feeling of being tricked, because the strong feeling of the reality of what I had experienced was still present. I was bitterly disappointed at not being able to go with her, and disappointed that such a powerful and loving being had been turned back into a tree. As I sobbed holding the tree, I became aware of the comments that the elders who had been watching me were making. I heard one of them say, They are always like this. First, they resist and play dumb when there are a lot of things waiting to be done, and then when it happens, they won t let it go, either.
Children are so full of contradictions.
The very experience you rejected before with lies, you are now accepting without apology. This last sentence seemed to have been directed at me. I looked up at the elder who spoke. He met my eyes, and I felt no further need to be holding on to the tree. Hours had passed, and the sun had already set.