Read The Order of the Trees Online

Authors: Katy Farber

The Order of the Trees (4 page)

He looked out at the grove of trees. At Stella,
the grooves in her bark like intricate highways leading up her wide, powerful trunk. The air stopped around him, waiting. The trees seemed to whisper in his ear and suddenly, it was clear.

If Cedar was born under this tree, if the tree falls, she'll die. Phillip shook his head. How could that be true? Everything he had ever learned screamed inside his mind that he was crazy; there was no magic, no relationship between the impending development and Cedar's sickness. A tiny voice, coming straight from his heart, told him it was true, that Cedar's life was in danger and they didn't have much time. Phillip felt the blood leave his face and he turned into the pumpkin-colored woods to run straight to his house.

Once he reached his parents' small rented farmhouse, he stopped to walk, to gather himself. His T-shirt was soaked and clinging to his back. Phillip wiped his brow with the back of his hand.

He pushed in the door, and burst into the kitchen where his parents were getting ready for dinner. Phillip couldn't keep in it. All in one sentence he blurted out, “Cedar's in the hospital I need to go see her right away.”

So much for acting normal.

Silverware clanked on plates. “Oh!” his mom said, jumping up from setting the table, “Oh, God, Phillip, what is it now? That poor girl's been so sick.”

Phillip gulped, and pushed out words. “Mom, can you give me a ride to the hospital? I just need to see if she's okay.”

Phillip's mom shot her husband a look. She turned her eyes back to Phillip and raised one eyebrow. Phillip felt his face go prickly hot, turning the color of the orange sunset.

“Tomorrow's Saturday, I can catch up on sleep this weekend. I just want to be there.” The heat flamed his face, deep red by now, but Phillip held his mom's gaze.

Painfully long seconds passed until Philip's mom said, “All right, all right. I can see you really care about her.”

Phillip ran to his room, grabbed his backpack, shoving in random items they might need: his laptop, flashlight, blankets, the newspaper. His plan solidified in his head as he whirled around the room.

Riding to the hospital, Phillip pretended to listen as his mom talked. What if they couldn't do it?
What if they were caught? His heart pounded in his chest. Cedar was in pain, he knew, and it might not stop. It would only get worse. They couldn't help her at the hospital. They didn't know the secret, and wouldn't believe it if they did.

Trying to sound casual, Phillip said, “Mom, have you heard about the development going into the Worcester woods by the trailhead?

Glad to have something else to talk about she said, “Oh yes, its been all over the news, isn't it terrible?”

Phillip nodded, trying to keep his voice even. “What do you know about it?” He stared out the window, avoiding her eyes.

“Oh, its some businessman from Burlington, he will be developing that whole hillside, putting in a neighborhood of about 20 houses. It's such a shame. Traffic will increase on our road, but you know, it will be good for the school. More of a tax base, they say, more funding for our tiny, old school, which Lord knows we need.”

“Do you know when they will start cutting the forest?” He tried to control a wince as he spoke.

His mom turned to look at him for a second—a
look that said, “Just why are you so curious?” But she continued, “Our neighbor says they'll start soon, to try to get the site ready before the snow falls. He even thinks it will be this week, because they've told him to expect logging trucks to be active on the edge of his land.”

“That soon?” Phillip's heart shot up into his throat. Cedar!

“What is it, Phillip? You can play somewhere else, you know?”

“It's. Not. Playing,” Phillip said. They pulled up to the hospital roundabout.

“Thanks Mom,” Phillip called as he burst out the door, before she could reach over and kiss him.

“Call when you need a ride home,” she called after him. The door had already slammed shut.

Phillip strode down the hospital sidewalk, thinking about how he could talk to Cedar alone, what they would do, and how she would react. Would she think he was crazy? Or would she know he was right? He walked faster.

At the hospital reception desk a woman with orange lipstick and sprayed perfect hair said, “May I help you?”

“Yes. I'd like to see Cedar Montgomery please.” His voice was shaky.

“Are you family?”

“Well, no, just, um, a friend.”

“I see.” She shuffled some papers, looked down. “Visiting hours are over at 7:00
P.M
. Please sign out a few minutes before that. She's in room 316. Take the elevator up, and turn right. It'll be the fourth room on the left.” She paused and looked at her clock. “You'd better hurry.”

Phillip looked at his watch. 6:45
P.M
. He tore down the hall, his feet clapping against the tile floor. He pushed the elevator button three times.

“Come on!” Phillip wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. He tapped his foot. What if she was asleep? Busy with family? He gulped, straightened his hair in the reflection of the gold metal elevator door.

Bing! The door opened and Phillip sailed through the hall, past people in wheelchairs, and busy nurses and doctors walking as fast as he was. He got to 316 and the door was partially closed. He peered inside, tightening his stomach around the butterflies. Inside Cedar lay stretched out on the
hospital bed, with an IV stuck in her arm, dripping mysterious fluid. She was looking at her parents, who had their seats pulled up around her bed. He stood there for a moment and she turned her head, as if she knew he was there. She waved him in.

“Phillip!” Sara said, jumping up, “Well, I didn't expect you. How nice of you to come!” She looked between them quickly. Kevin offered his hand for Phillip to shake.

“How is she?” he asked.

“She is doing quite fine, and can speak for herself,” Cedar said, a smirk blooming across her face.

Phillip smiled for the first time in hours, and Sara offered him a seat. Cedar stared at Phillip for a moment, and his smile quickly retreated as he noticed how pale she was. You could almost see her blue blood vessels under the skin. Her eyes were red and deeply shaded underneath. She looked as though she'd been awake for days. Despite this she said, “Phillip, I'm not dead yet, so don't look at me like I am!”

He nodded and looked away quickly, unsure what to do with himself. Sara picked up on this and said, “Kevin, why don't we go down to the cafeteria
and get some coffee. Kids, do you want anything? Ice cream?”

Cedar stared at Phillip while she said, “No Mom, we're fine.” Phillip nodded in agreement and Kevin and Sara disappeared out the door.

“How are you really?”

“I'm OK, it's just that I don't feel like myself, and these people keep giving me medications that have nasty chemicals in them and they overpower me. I feel like an alien in my own body.”

“What do they think it is?”

“They have no idea. They are going to do a bunch of scary tests on me tomorrow. Needles, X-rays, CAT scans, the works, just awful. I don't want to be here.”

Phillip looked out the window onto the dark parking lot. He knew he just had to come right out and say it.

“What is it, Phillip? Did Miranda and Sam do something today?” Her face crinkled up with concern.

“No, no. It's just that I think I know why you are sick. And I don't think it has anything to do with all this.” He gestured to all the medical equipment around them.

Cedar's eyes opened wider. The light seemed to shine out of them again.

“Look at this.”

He handed her the crinkled-up local paper, folded open to the development article. “I went to our spot today, Cedar. There is orange tape everywhere, on Magdelin, Rose, and even … Stella. Forty-two trees. Scheduled to be knocked down any day now for that new development. I mean, you were born there, right? That is your place, your family. Maybe in some weird way, your life depends on that forest.”

Cedar's eyes filled with water, and her hand reached for Phillip's. “Of course,” she said quietly, “of course.” She looked up at Phillip. “If Stella dies…”

Phillip strained to keep looking at her deer-like eyes. “Don't say it. We'll figure out a way to stop it.”

“But how?”

Now it was Phillip's turn to be strong. “We don't have much time, but I have an idea. It is going to be incredibly risky and it may not work, but what other choice to we have?”

Cedar nodded. “Go on.”

Chapter 8

When Phillip finished explaining, he looked down at his watch and said, “I have to go, Cedar. Visiting hours are over and your parents will be back any second.”

Cedar nodded, her big eyes begging him not to leave her there.

“You only have one day left here if all goes as planned. You can make it. Just think about our trees, the forest. Think about Stella. And ways to make our plan work.”

“I think you've already done most of that.”

Sara and Kevin looked in the tiny window on the closed door and smiled.

“Ten o'clock Monday night,” Phillip said, standing up.

“Ten o'clock.” Tears sprouted in her eyes again.

Back at home, Phillip stared at his desk. His cat Rufus rubbed his legs, and jumped on his lap. “How will I convince these sixth graders to help us? They don't even like us,” he asked Rufus as he purred and nuzzled his hand. He stared at the blank piece of paper in front of him.

He wrote, “Important Meeting at Recess. Cedar Montgomery needs our help.” then crossed it out. I need to get their attention, Phillip thought. “Your classmate, Cedar Montgomery is in danger. She needs your help. Meet by the swing set at 12:30 Monday.”

Phillip's hand ached as he copied the message over and over on to small slips of paper. Before he knew it, his little brother had popped up behind him.

“Whatcha doin'?” He said. His pudgy hand reached for the notes.

“Nothing Colin, get outta here.”

He ushered his little brother out of the room and closed the door. “Mom,” Phillip heard, “Phillip is writing notes!”

“Argh!” Phillip moaned as he slammed his fist on the table.

Before school the next day Phillip couldn't eat breakfast. His stomach squirmed as he thought of the meeting, what he'd say, and whether they'd all laugh at him. Just think about Cedar, he thought. She's suffering and will only get worse unless you do this. He readied himself for battle.

When Phillip got to school, he slid into his chair and tried to concentrate on breathing. He looked around. Mrs. Doneaway wasn't in the room yet. This was one of his chances.

He looked over to Dan Bloom, seated in the row next to him. Dan was doodling on his folder.

“Psst, Dan!” Phillip said in a forced whisper. He handed him the note across the row, his hand shaking. Dan read it and his eyes grew large. He nodded and shoved the paper deep in his pocket.

Phillip handed out five more papers before Mrs. Doneaway came charging in the room. Miranda glared at Phillip from the back corner. She whispered something to Sam who snickered.

“Is there something wrong, girls? Or are you ready to start class?”

“Oh, we're ready to start class, Mrs. Doneaway, we just wanted you to know that someone is passing notes in this class.” Miranda looked at Phillip sideways, her pink glossy lips upturned slightly.

Phillip stared straight ahead, but several heads turned towards him. He face felt like it had burst into flames. Mrs. Doneaway walked slowly, her heels clicking on the way, to Phillip's desk. She paused, looked down from beneath her pointy glasses and said, “Really.” She stopped for dramatic effect, and the air seemed to evaporate right out of the room. “Is that true, Phillip? Passing notes?” Each word was said as if it took up her whole mouth, and tasted good.

Phillip squirmed. “I, ah, well… “ Heat rose from his forehead, beaming red.

“That's no answer, Phillip. I'm waiting.” She stood right beside him and tapped her pencil on her hand.

Phillip looked around frantically. The whole class stared back, and Miranda and Sam smiled with satisfaction at the torture Phillip endured.

“No.” It came out like a squeak, the smallest little sound.

“What?” She said, eyebrows raised.

“No, Mrs. Doneaway, I wasn't passing notes.” Phillip said a little louder, sitting up.

“OK then. But I'll be watching just to be sure.” She smiled back at Miranda, who beamed.

And she walked back towards the front of the classroom, click, click, click.

“Now class, where were we with adding fractions?”

Later in the lunchroom almost everyone in the sixth grade seemed to know about the meeting. Phillip had passed out more notes at snack time, in the hallway and the bathroom. Since Cedar was out of school, Phillip had sat at his usual table for lunch, alone. But today, many kids came and sat next to him, asking questions about the meeting and commenting on the close call with Mrs. Doneaway in class. Many of them looked at him like it was the first time they were actually seeing him. He quietly repeated several times that Cedar was sick, in grave danger, and that she needed everyone's help to get better. Kids looked at him like he was a little crazy, and brave to do something like this.

Miranda plunked down next to Phillip at the cafeteria table. “How sweet. Phillip is trying to save poor little Tree Girl. Isn't that just special? What will we do, dance around a tree singing chants to save her?” Sam snorted next to her.

Phillip turned back to his grilled cheese. I'm not going to punch Miranda in the face, he told himself, I'm not.

“Aww, too afraid to speak up? Just like today with the notes? I thought you'd melt right out of your chair the way Mrs. Doneaway was looking at you. ‘No,' you squeaked in that high, little voice of yours.”

Other books

Dark Star by Robert Greenfield
The Machine by Joe Posnanski
Behind a Lady's Smile by Jane Goodger
Korea by Simon Winchester
Sharks & Boys by Kristen Tracy
The Rain Began to Fall by A. K. Hartline