“We shouldn’t do this.”
Laura pulled the ax out of her backpack.
“Stop! It’ll hurt the tree!”
Laura directed a querying finger at the wormy stump before planting her feet and lifting the tool.
Monique stepped closer.
“Don’t be daft,” Laura sighed. But she did lower her arms and gave her little sister a long look.
Monique’s eyes glittered. The gal was going to cry. Over a tree stump.
Then again, she’d bawled over a crushed ant and pouted for a week after Laura ate the goose’s egg.
“The bark will compost.” Laura tried. “And … we need fire wood.”
For Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers
Photo: © Sandra Crook
Na'ama Yehuda 
Monique – my mother’s name and my middle name 😉 And she is such a softie, for sure. (My mother and I, not so much 😉 )
Hopefully Laura can talk some sense into her on this particular issue.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, I hope so, too! After all, you need a fire to cook some goose eggs … 😉 (me so bad!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tee hee! You are sooooo bad!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Special pleading from Laura
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep. Though someone’s gotta use SOMETHING in nature … 😉
LikeLike
Monique is very empathetic indeed. And very idealistic. I hope Laura can balance it out 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, a bit too idealistic for sustaining life. Her own. … And … yes, Laura ends up having to pick up the slack … 🙂
LikeLike
Indeed! Great take, Na’ama
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Shweta! 🙂
LikeLike
Life is going to be hard for the little one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, it sure is. And if she didn’t have Laura to make some of the more practical decisions for her … she’d have to grow up or figure out a way to become part of the food chain that isn’t THE food … 😉 All about balance!
LikeLike
Na’ama Y’karah,
I’m sure there’s no reasoning with the little sister. I can remember not wanting to eat Peeps when I was five. It made me sad to eat something so cute with a face. Cute story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Rochelle! 🙂
For the record, I won’t eat Peeps, either … but that’s because they creep me out a little and the taste is … well … not for me … 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Taking a small amount never does harm. it’s the needless clear-cutting and murdering of whole forests and millions of animals that are killing Earth. Well done on, Monique for trying to save something,
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly! And … yes, it is about finding a sustainable and respectful balance. Monique may be a bit overprotective, but her heart is in the right place… And it seems Laura is practical but not necessarily disrespectful. Great comment, Mason. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think so, they’ll keep each other on the right path I feel.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel, too … 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good luck on using that stump for firewood! Fun story, Na’ama.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL, I know. All worm-bbq holey smokey … 😉 But, hey, at least Laura isn’t cutting down healthy trees! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
She’d have as much trouble burning green wood, but you’re right! I know some cultures burn dung for fuel. There’s an idea for recycling 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep. … In reality, sustainability doesn’t mean avoiding all use, but about judicial and respectful use. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Should have told her you were clearing the stump to make way for new trees to grow; but then she is a bit over sensitive, perhaps marshmallows on an open fire will make her feel better.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah … but the stump is a home for worms and bugs and … 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not sure whose side I’m on here! They need firewood and the bugs need a home. Let me think ….!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😉 You can always live on air. I hear some people think they can … 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wonder what they’re doing out there in the woods. Firewood for home, I hope. I hope they’re not all alone and trying to survive.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I hope it is firewood for home or homesteading, or even camping … and not anything bad. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
yep, somebody has to be a bad dude sometimes. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Or just more practical … 😉 You gotta use SOMETHING in the world around you … 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sometimes the practical has to give way to necessity.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! Exactly!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely dialogue, and the characters are well drawn.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Penny! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure she will be happy, warm in winter. Unless she is going to protest and sleep outside.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have a feeling that she’ll be content with a warm meal in her belly and a comfy place to sleep … 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Laura needs to be the realistic one for their benefit even their survival. That’s not always fun. In so few words, you created two distinct characters. I really enjoyed, Na’ama!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Brenda! And, I totally agree about Laura! 🙂
LikeLike
I feel like Monique sometimes. And sometimes like Laura. Great take, empathy is important, but if you want to live, you need to use some part of nature.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! It is about the balance, isn’t it? Using what we need, replenishing what we can, respecting all of it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If they really need firewood they should forage for it/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, yes, but that might take away potential homes for worms … 😉
LikeLike
The idealist and the realist. All life is precious, but Monique’s going to have to learn that some concessions have to be made.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly! You ‘got’ it perfectly! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person