Hello Kids, 
TT and I have been playing with trees and rolling in leaves.
Shhhhhhhhh Stubb. I hear crying! Can’t you hear it?
I look around. I don’t see any little nippers. What???? “TT, the noise is coming from this small tree!”
Stubb, get a grip!! Trees are just trees. They don’t talk and NEVER cry.
I trot up to the almost bare tree. “I’ve lost my leaves. I can’t keep um on! I’m going to die!”
My tail drops and I start to pant. The weird whisper voice comes from under a branch near me!
“I was beautiful.” The tree starts to cry. “My leaves were all colors and now I’m an awful tree.”
TT yells, Give it up. We rolled and played in your leaves.
“Yes, don’t cry. You won’t die.”
He sobs again. His bare branches shake and quiver. “I have nothing left. I have NO HOPE.”
TT yells, I’m hungry! We can’t eat dumb leaves!! Who cares about UGLY little trees.
“Shame on you! Are you a Talking Tummy without a HEART??”
Sorry! I’m alway hungry. I need a gobbler! I can’t help it.
A group of kids with their teacher surround the small tree.
TT starts to wiggle and gurgle. I see sack lunches. Yay, a chance for food.
“Listen up students. This tree has dropped it leaves. It’s living but now it’s dormant. It will sleep and conserve its energy through the winter months.”
A boy asks, “Is the tree hibernating like the sleeping bears?”
“Right on!” The teacher smiles. “In the spring this tree will leaf out again. This is nature’s special plan. The tree is deciduous because it drops its leaves.”
The tree’s limbs give a happy wave as the class walks away. He shakes and whispers, “I’m okay!!! I like my fancy name. I’m just going to nap and then I’ll wake up later. My leaves will be back!!”
I rub against the tree. I give him a sniff and a lick. “TT, I hear something. Maybe it’s water inside. Maybe it’s a heartbeat!!!”
TT checking in. Who cares about a heartbeat? Follow those kids! They’re stopping for lunch. Stubb, THAT’S AN ORDER!!!
Friends, keep on learning. Hug a tree and Listen!!
STUBB and TT