A Shorter Introduction to the Story of the Man and the Tree

Chapter 2

II

A Shorter Introduction to the Story of the Man and the Tree

“I once heard The Story of the Man and the Tree.”

“Of course you did.”

“Don’t you believe me?”

“Well, sure, it’s unlikely, but I was more on about the part of the once.”

“I see.”

“Please, continue.”

“Well, I once heard it from a youth who heard it from their grandfather.”

“That young, huh?

“Yeah,” he shuffles in his seat, gathering all the plot points and emotions into a certain story, “want to hear it?”

“Well, I want to, but I'm not sure as to what I have done to earn hearing it."

"I have no more use for the story than the drunkard across from us." The man points to the drunkard across from them. The drunkard responds with uncoordinated limb garble that weaves into a beautiful mess of incoherent nonsense, as a drunkard does. 

"I can't say I'm not honoured," the other man says. 

"Don't be, it's not because I particularly like you that much."

"Oh?"

"I've just got a post-imminent sense of needing to get this off my chest. You know, to release the responsibility, and give it to another individual."

"Surely it's not that hard to carry."

"It is. It crosses my mind every time I close my eyes for too long or sleep unadulteratedly."

"Fascinating. Another round Barman!"

"Sure thing Ron," says Barman, from behind the bar.

"Thanks," says the storyteller, from front the bar.

"No problem," says Ron, who was also front the bar. 

"I think I'm ready to tell now."

"I think I'm ready to hear."

"The Story of the Man and the Tree."