The Old Walnut Tree

“Sam, can you please pass me that jug of milk?”

“Yes Papa. Here it is,” Sam said with his mouth full.

“Sammy, how many times have I told you not to speak with your mouth full?”

“Yes Mommy! I’m sorry. Ooops! Sorry,” mumbled Sam still with his mouth full and giggled sheepishly.

“Sam, you’re a real clown!” laughed his sister loudly.

“Not at all, Vinny. I’m a squirrel and so are you,” squeaked Sam. “You better not forget that!”

“Sam, I never forget that. You’re the one who goes gallivanting with the robins and sparrows,” Vinny said hotly.

“So what? They’re my friends. Don’t you have yours?” Sam argued. “Those silly girl squirrels from the Nutt family living on the other side of our tree, aren’t they your friends? Crazy things! They keep giggling all the time. At least my friends are talented. They sing and hop. I’m learning a few hop steps from them.”

“Oh really! Sammy, don’t you get me started about those good-for-nothing friends of yours...” began Vinny.

“Children... children... that’s enough! Finish your breakfast,” chimed in Mrs. Squeak.

“Sam and Vinny, this is the last time I’m warning you. I want no arguments at the dining table,” Mr. Squeak looked at them over his spectacles as he folded his newspaper.

“Yes Papa,” they mumbled humbly.

“Mrs. Squeak, I should be going to the Walnut factory now. I may not be home for lunch. There’s an extra lot of walnuts, almonds and groundnuts coming in for cracking and processing. With autumn coming up in the next few months the work has doubled. I have to keep a track of the stock coming in and going into the storehouse. If there’s anything you want, message me through the Bumblebees buzzing service. I’ll get the required stuff while coming home in the evening,” Mr. Squeak said walking to the door of their cosy home on the second branch of the Walnut Tree.

“Yes darling. Shall I send Sammy with a tiffin for lunchtime?” Mrs. Squeak said accompanying her husband to the door.

“No... no. I’ll have something in the canteen. Sam will definitely get lost on his way up to the sixth branch with his friends. Or if he does reach, he and the other boys will wreck havoc at my office. Those robins and sparrows can’t be trusted. They’ll peck at anything edible in sight,” Mr. Squeak said opening the door.

Vinny sitting at table with her brother giggled, caught her brother’s eye and turned it into a cough.

“Goodbye dear!” Mr. Squeak bent to kiss his wife’s cheek.

“Goodbye!” replied Mrs. Squeak affectionately.

“Both you children, I don’t want to see you till lunchtime,” Mrs. Squeak said bustling around clearing the dining table. “I want to turn out the cupboards in the kitchen and check our stock of food. You’ll keep fighting with each other and getting in my way. So... off you go!”

“O great! I’ll be with Rocky, the Robin and Swanky, the Sparrow,” Sam said scampering down the living room towards the door.

“Wait a minute, young man. Where are you going today?” queried Mrs. Squeak with the butter dish in her hand. “Do I have to remind you not to go to the other end of the garden where the humans live?”

“Oh mommy! Don’t be so boring. It’s fun to watch them rushing around or just lazing there in their garden on easy chairs. They rarely do that, though. Most of the time they’re busy on some devices in their hands called mobile phones,” said Sam airily.

“Mobile phones! You stay away from those. Half of our troubles are caused by those and keep Swanky away too. Do you know their network towers send out waves that are the reason behind many sparrows dying in recent times? Sammy, did you hear me?” Mrs. Squeak said anxiously.

“Alright mommy! I promise I’ll be careful. I’ll see you at lunchtime. Cook something interesting,” Sam waved and closed the door behind him.

“This boy!” Mrs. Squeak muttered and walked to the refrigerator.

*******

“Kanak, have you seen that squirrel playing with those birds? Do you think they’re friends?” observed her brother.

“Bhaiyya, could be. Our science teacher once told us a story that animals and birds have their homes and families just like us. So, they must be having friends also,” said the six year old Kanak looking at Sam, Swanky and Rocky gambolling on a branch of the walnut tree that was visible from their playroom window.

“Kanak! We have to speak to daddy,” Ankush spoke up urgently.

“What about, bhaiyya?” Kanak looked at her elder brother curiously.

“I heard daddy discussing with someone over his mobile phone that he wants to have the walnut tree cut down,” Ankush paced the room restlessly.

“But why?” Kanak looked at her brother in horror. “It’s such an old tree. Granny used to tell us stories about the squirrels, birds and insects who live there.”

“Daddy wants a swimming pool there,” Ankush said quietly. “I thought it was a brilliant idea at the time but I just realized we’ll be the reason for so many creatures becoming homeless. I feel terrible.”

“Oh no! Bhaiyya, let’s talk to daddy as soon as he comes home today. Let’s discuss what we’ll tell him,” Kanak suggested keeping her doll away whose golden hair she had been combing.

*******

“Good evening, daddy! We have something to discuss with you,” chirped the children as their father sat down to tea at their dining table.

“Good evening, my dears! Were you good today? Did you do your homework?” Mr. Sharma stood up and swung his daughter in the air.

The little girl squealed happily and hugged her father.

“Yes daddy. We’ve both completed our homework,” Ankush said respectfully.

“Good children,” Mrs. Sharma smiled from her place at the dining table.

“Very well, so what do you want to talk to me about? I’m all ears,” Mr. Sharma queried with raised eyebrows as he sat his daughter on the chair nearest to him. Mrs. Sharma drew the chair closer to the table.

“Well, daddy you see...” Ankush began and then hesitated.

“Go on...” urged his father taking a sip from his cup.

“I heard you speaking to someone about cutting down the walnut tree and making a swimming pool but we both, Kanak and I think that it isn’t a good idea...” Ankush continued.

“Ankush, eavesdropping isn’t good,” his mother gently rebuked him.

“Mummy...Daddy, I’m sorry I shouldn’t have eavesdropped,” the ten-year old boy said contritely.

“I’m listening... carry on,” Mr. Sharma looked at them gravely.

“Daddy, in school we’ve been taught and also granny told us that birds and animals have their families and homes...” little Kanak peeked at her father’s face. “Is it true, daddy... mummy?”

“Yes, my dear. That’s true. Isn’t it why we have a bird feeder and a vessel for them to drink water from and bathe in?” her mother said leaning forward and tucking a curl behind her ear.

“Then... then... how can we destroy their home and ruin their families? I mean, why we want to hurt them?” queried Ankush softly.

“What do you mean, my boy?” his father asked taken aback. “How are we hurting them?”

Kanak slid down from her chair and climbed onto her father’s lap. She put her arms around his neck and spoke earnestly, “Daddy, granny told us that walnut tree is very-very old. In its branches live hundreds of insects and bees. Also, other creatures like birds and small animals have their homes in its trunk at different places. It has a huge trunk, hasn’t it? If we cut it down all of them will become homeless. They will have no food and no shelter. Where will they go with their babies? It will bring them so much of pain and suffering. Poor things! I can’t imagine losing our beautiful and comfortable home, and that too just before autumn comes. It will become cold.”

Kanak trembled, her eyes huge with pain.

Her father looked at her thoughtfully and felt her small body shiver.

“Hmm... Put like that, I think I’ve been thoughtless. Well, you two have reminded me of something important I too learnt as a child. And, therefore I’ll forgive you for eavesdropping, Ankush. I’ll call up immediately and cancel the plan I had asked the contractor to draw up,” Mr. Sharma said rising from the chair with his daughter in his arms. “We can have the swimming pool behind the garage.”

He swung her in the air once again and said, “Now does that make you happy, my dears?”

“Yes... oh... yes! We love you, daddy!” the children chorused and hugged their father.

“I love you too. Thank you children for bringing this up,” Mr. Sharma ruffled his son’s hair as he put his daughter down.

“I’m glad you both are growing into vigilant young citizens of this world,” their mother smiled at them. “I’m so proud of you!”