The Garden of the Inert and the Animate

As the sun again beamed brightly upon Alfred's tree, he woke up to the noise of his 6 year old granddaughter, Keene jumping jovially about, yet again. She was an inquisitive young girl, who had a new question waiting for him every day when he woke up. Alfred would answer it (or at least try answering it) first thing in the morning, unless of course a more important task should step his way.

But what is this about 'Alfred's tree'.Well, Alfred The Wise and his young granddaughter Keene were the inhabitants of The Garden Of The Inert And The Animate. It had been set up by Goddess Vremya. No one knew where its fence lay, but everyone knew that it had an expanse well beyond their imaginations. Each inhabitant is born with a plant of their own. Along with them, their plant grows, from a seed to a sapling, from a sapling to a plant, and from a plant to a grown tree. It represented them and their lives. All trees can live and flower and further pass on life, but few treekeepers' trees did it in a way so green, bright, beautiful and organized as Alfred's. Fable has it that even it had once been a little yellow, and even a little brown once, but those were the days of his youth, now there were little people around who matched the age and experience of the venerable treekeeper. And so it was that all treekeepers that knew him and all treekeepers he knew, affectionately called him Alfred, the wise.

But it was not just the waterly efforts of the treekeepers, that decided the health of the tree. It was also the sunlight, the rain and the soil. Vremya had given these responsibilities to her three kids: Pastine, Misare and Willonka. They frequently visited the trees and their treekeepers, took a tour around the area along with the treekeeper, and tested him/her. They would accordingly help them with these abiotic needs. (Their mother's a Goddess!) The needs will be properly taken care of if two of them sanction it. But, if it's one of those rare cases when all three of them are impressed and flattered, then the needs are elaborately taken care of. What made Alfred stand out was the fact that for atleast 15 years, his needs had almost always been elaborately taken care of. He was known for passing their tests with flying colors.

So this fine morning, old Alfred saw Pastine, Misare and Willonka, passing a nearby tree. The poor tree had recently deteriorated to the reds and yellows of autumn, and it was miserable just to see the tortured treekeeper. Alfred didn't like the idea of them troubling him when he is already in such a miserable condition, but he knew of their heartless ways and he had learnt that the hard way.

Anyway, now that he knew that a more important task is indeed stepping his way, the question of the day was postponed.

 As usual, Willonka was pestering the other two to walk faster and keep up with him. Pastine was the slowest and Misare tried to contantly be at equal distances from both of them. And finally, they were near Alfred's tree, the last of Pastine's steps crunching the last of the fallen leaves.

As Willonka's eyes gleamed with planned mischief and as an understanding passed between the three, Alfred knew that something was up.

"I really don't like autumn; it's too sad and depressing, it ruins the daily vigor and happiness of a treekeeper!," begun Misare. 

"Agreed. But if he remembers the old happy memories of green, bright days, he should be able to keep up, I guess," chimed Pastine.

Even Willonka seemed to be in agreement,"Yes, it ruins all future prospects of a healthy life."

Well, this is rare, thought Alfred, all three singing the same song? He knew something was fishy, and he knew what he would have to do. He will have to show a new positive outlook to the situation.

"No, may be it's not all that bad, after all, if someone just keeps reminiscing the good happy days of the past, and neglects the need to maintain it so in the present, they shall suffer. It is a teacher, it teaches the need to be happy and yet not forget  one's duties in its dazzles. It teaches the need to not ruin your usual happy self just because of passing problems. It teaches that one should not lose hope, and in such a situation, strive hard for the upcoming spring and not fill oneself with remorse later. If the old leaves are falling, then new shall sprout, life is not stagnant. The key to a good life is balancing the achievements of the past, the troubles of the present and the goals for future."

As usual, Alfred had impressed all three offsprings of the immortal goddess, that was not new.

What was new was that he had, for the first time, answered Keene's innocent question without trying. Why was it that only his tree was so green? Why was it that only he was called 'The Wise', why not someone else? What was the secret behind her grandpa's happily successful life?

Well, now she knew, it was not being overconfident if your past was good, and being hopeful and hardworking in case you are troubled and not making same mistakes in the future. In her grandpa's words, The key to a good life is balancing the achievements of the past, the troubles of the present and the goals for future. Those who understand this simple truth of life, are remember even after their deaths and those who are unable to, pass even their lives as walking dead. Yet, all are a part of The Garden Of The Inert And The Animate.