“I do not love her. I attend to her. There is a difference, and the difference is the entire society.”
— B. Verlot, founding member, 1979
North Bough i
Someone will offer you a folding chair this week. Accept it. Position it so the chair faces the trunk, not the conversation.
Sap-Run ii
You have been told twice this month that you remind a person of their father. This is the tree’s doing. Forgive it.
Knee-Hollow iii
A small object placed in the hollow on Thursday will be gone by Sunday. Do not investigate. The hollow files things.
Old Lichen iv
Avoid making promises in writing. Spoken ones will hold their shape. Anything in ink will warp by Friday.
Squirrel Door v
Wear green on Tuesday or do not. The tree was not informed of Tuesday and cannot be expected to weigh in.
Tilted Branch vi
A favor you forgot you owed will be quietly cancelled. Send a card anyway. The card was always the point.
Topmost Crown vii
You will be invited to lead a thing. Decline by the second ask. The third is no longer an invitation.
Bark Spiral viii
The argument you are having is a younger argument wearing this argument’s coat. Address the coat first.
Root Over Curb ix
Walk the long way home. The short way remembers what you did. The long way does not, and you may have it back.
Stump-Adjacent x
Buy oranges. Eat one over the sink. Bring the rest to the bench. People will know what to do with them.
Bee-Years xi
A weeknight will feel exactly like a Sunday. Do not correct anyone who thanks you for last Sunday. They have their reasons.
Quiet Side xii
You are owed an apology that will not arrive. The tree apologizes on its behalf. Consider the matter closed.