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A Knotty Problem, by Paul A. Freeman

26/5/2023

16 Comments

 
Naked, Zandra hugged the banyan tree’s vaulted trunk.

“Hold that pose!” said Volga, her boyfriend. Sacred or not, the tree made an impressive backdrop for fruity pics for the yoga celebrity’s website.

Zandra put her ear to the bark. “I hear my ancestors!” she exclaimed, before discovering herself stuck to the tree.

Volga rushed to her rescue, but found himself also stuck, and being absorbed into the tree.

When the site’s holy man arrived, the tree trunk exhibited two knotty areas like indistinct faces.

A camera lay nearby. He recovered it, deleted the photos and hurried off to the market.

16 Comments
David Milner
26/5/2023 11:03:54 am

As you would. A knotty problem, indeed. Made me laugh. Thank you, Paul.

Reply
Sandra James
26/5/2023 01:06:56 pm

There's a very knotty tree on the roadside near my home. I always wondered how it got like that! Great story, Paul 🙂

Reply
Jacqui Wiley
26/5/2023 01:07:54 pm

Brillant story, they got themselves in knots

Reply
Tony
26/5/2023 01:15:09 pm

Knot bad, knot bad. Well done. Thanks.

Reply
Ian Willey
26/5/2023 01:30:54 pm

I like it. A pair of self-absorbed people are themselves absorbed. It could be a Greek myth.

Reply
Sivan Pillai
26/5/2023 02:14:45 pm

The holy tree converted them into knots! Lovely story, Paul.

Reply
Bill Cox
26/5/2023 03:41:33 pm

From self-absorbed to just plain old absorbed. Frozen together in a forever selfie. Nicely done, Paul.

Reply
Paul Freeman link
28/5/2023 10:00:22 am

'Frozen together in a forever selfie.' Fabulous image!

Reply
Scott Holstad link
26/5/2023 04:50:49 pm

There are many trees like that down on St Simons Island, GA. I always wondered how they became like that and now I think I may know. Great story, Paul.

Reply
Jim Bartlett link
26/5/2023 05:12:27 pm

Well, that naughty tree! ;-)
Knot what I expected as I read the story!
Well done, Paul. Fun
Jim

Reply
Pamela Kennedy
27/5/2023 01:21:59 am

I truly like the mythical vibe to your story....

Reply
Penny
27/5/2023 08:21:51 am

I enjoyed this. I have met people exactly like these two.

Reply
Marjan Sierhuis
27/5/2023 12:48:44 pm

A whopper of a good story.

Reply
Paul Freeman link
27/5/2023 10:13:58 pm

Thanks for commenting, folks. It's based on a true story, from Bali. The 'influencer' made an abject apology to the tree with a holy man present - but still got deported.

Reply
Tom Baldwin
28/5/2023 06:21:17 am

Loved it!

Reply
Sue Clayton
29/5/2023 02:19:50 am

If you look hard enough, you can always see faces in tree knots. They always seem to be crying.

Reply



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