Planting a Tree

Tree planting We, schoolchildren, were sent to a field to plant trees I was given a handful of samplings and a mall spade the soil was black and moist early spring cold fingers. There worms who appeared to dislike this sudden light. I asked a teacher if worms knew they were worms. “ never mind the worms, he said, dig a tree. Behind me, the lads dared each other to swallow one, later he said he stomach cramps and was allowed to go home. Wish I was that smart. That was seventy years ago the field is a forest populated with rabbits and foxes, wolves are banned they eat children for breakfast, the adults said. I don´t care much about worms, but my hands were cold, I had put them under my jacket, and I hated the teacher. Nevertheless, I like to think I once helped to plant trees.