They lifted their roots out of the ground and shook off the dirt. Then they moved their limbs forward and began walking down the street. “Where are you going?” cried the kids. “We’re off to see the city” the trees explained. “Can we come too?” they asked. “We’ll I guess so. Climb aboard.” And with that, the tree lifted the kids up and perched them on one of the more steadier branches. They all began walking down the street. As they passed street signs and buildings the kids pointed things out. “That’s a drugstore. It’s where you go to buy medicine. And that’s a clock tower. My friend lives there.” Cars stopped and drivers stuck their heads out in bewilderment. When they got to the bridge the trees were a little hesitant to cross. “That’s a lot of water” one said. “Maybe we should turn around” another piped up. “It will be fine” said the tree in front. “Just think of the wonders that await us on the other side”

So the trees began crossing the bridge. When they got to the other side they saw a large gathering of people. The mayor of the city stepped forward and welcomed them. More and more people were joining the group. Everyone was very happy to see the trees. That evening there was a party. People danced and sang and ate and drank. The festivities carried on late into the night.

The next morning when the trees awoke, all the people had gone home. And there was something new. A tall fence had been constructed around the trees. A sign on the fence read, “The Walking Trees.”

“We are we in here?” The trees called out. But there was no answer. People began to come and see the trees. They would come from far, far away. They would take pictures and videos.

Then one day the kids that had rode across the bridge, came to see the trees. They had been trying to get someone to free the trees. “No one would talk to us” they explained. “They kept saying things like, ‘you’re still children’ and ‘where are your parents’”

Not knowing what to do, the trees decided to lay down their limbs, close their eyes and go to sleep. They slept for many months. Eventually people stopped coming to see them. “Why aren’t they walking?” Children would ask their parents. “They only do it sometimes.”

More months passed and then years. Many many years passed and people began to forget that the trees could ever walk. “That’s just what we call them,” they would say.

After a while the sign rusted away and fell to the ground. Everyone who knew the trees could walk were now no longer around. More years passed. People came and went. Houses were built and torn down. Then one day the mayor ordered the fence to be removed. It had become mighty ugly and, what’s more, no one even knew why it was there in the first place. So the fence was removed and a park was built around the trees. One day, awakened by the yelps and laughter that rang through the air, one of the trees opened its eyes. It looked around and saw that the fence was gone. Thinking that this might be their chance, it turned to wake the other trees when it saw the park. It saw how children, exhausted from running in the sun, came to rest under its shade. And from its branches, which had grown strong and thick, now hung swings. It’s bark, now old and crumbly, housed a museum of bugs, insects and other mysterious wonders. Slowly, it closed its eyes and decided to rest for just a little longer. Surely the world would be able to wait for the walking trees to return.