David C. McLavic - 28. Chapter 28

Early the next morning, Uncle Joe and I returned to Mrs. Cummings and the mountain. On the way, I told Uncle Joe about the lumber people pulling out because of Mrs. Cummings husband's death. The trees have a voice, “I was hoping you may be able to talk with them. I like this place and would like to build my home there but I don’t want to offend the trees.”

Pulling into Mrs. Cummings, I introduced Uncle Joe to her. When I went to get our gear, Uncle Joe said he wanted to stay on the mountain, so I drove to the Lodge, where we had a late lunch.

Bobby came, and the three of us climbed the mountain to the top. Uncle Joe went to taste the water, but before he could put his hand in the stream, I gave him a cup from my backpack.

Tasting the water, he smiled, “Taste’s good, but very cold.” I let Bobby explain about the water being the result of the snow melting from the top of the mountain.

Sitting on a blanket, Bobby explained about the trees having a spirit. He told Uncle Joe about the lumbering and why they pulled out. I sat there and listened.

Uncle Joe went to talk to the trees. Bobby and I sat there watching him as he moved from tree to tree. He would put his hands on the tree touching them. Then in a sing-song voice would chant something.

Bobby and I watched as he moved from tree to tree. “Is he really talking to the trees?”

“Yes, when I first met him, he was strange. But as we became friends I began to respect his abilities. He told us about an underground river that the army now uses. He told me about the snakes in the rocks where we collected various stones and coal. In his way, he is very knowledgeable about nature.”

As we sat there watching, it became obvious he was having a lively conversation. If you didn’t know about Uncle Joe you would have thought he was nuts. Of course, if you told anyone the trees had a spirit they would think you were nuts.

Uncle Joe returned to where we were sitting. “The trees said if you respect them, you can have the wood that falls to the ground. But you must respect the trees.”

He asked us to go with him, he showed us a plant that grew among the trees. According to Uncle Joe, it was called Sassafras. “If you take some of these roots and boil it in water, it makes a pleasant tea that is good. You must just take a little of the root.”

I made a mental note of the small tree he showed us. Compared to the large trees the lumber company would want, this tree looked like a runt. I asked Bobby about the tree. He said he didn’t know anything but wondered what the tea would taste like. “Do you think there are other plants that have some medicinal properties such as the tea from this plant?”

“I don’t know. But I can’t think of a reason why there wouldn’t be.”

The three of us sat on the grass, listening to the sounds around us. I thought of all the times I have walked through a forest, or a city street and ignored the sounds. Now I was listening attentively to the sounds around us.