The Haunted Tree

THE HAUNTED TREE
Priya Narayan
In the forest of Greenie-fee lived a number of animals. Jiffy the Giraffe was the tallest among them. Slippy the Snake could slither everywhere so smoothly that everyone called him Slippy. Jumpy the Monkey never stayed in one place. He jumped around. He hung upside down. He just kept leaping from one tree to the other. Sparrow the Parrot chirruped like a sparrow. She never squawked. Peas was the Caterpillar. His friends called him Peas because his body looked like peas in a pod. Trumpet the Elephant had a very long trunk. She was very proud that she had the longest nose. She would trumpet with her trunk Frrrruuuummmmppphhhhhhhh all day long. There were other animals like Manny the Lion with a huge, prickly mane, Hoppy the Rabbit who hopped the highest and Delilah the Deer.
One day, all the animals decided to go on a picnic to the Haunted Tree. They woke up early in the morning and set out on their journey. They went around the Winding Path. They went through the Hollow Tunnel.
The Hollow Tunnel was creepy and Sparrow the Parrot was very scared. Chirruppp! Chirruppp! Lets get out of here! she screeched. Dont be afraid Sparrow, said Delilah the Deer. It will be alright. We will just keep walking.
Ill ROAAAAAAAR if anything comes in our way, said Manny the Lion. Keep Quiet, trumpeted Trumpet the Elephant. Yes, please keep quiet or youll wake up the ghost! said Jumpy the Monkey in an excited voice. Theres a GHOST? asked Peas the Caterpillar and Hoppy the Rabbit together in a frightened tone. Theres no such thing as ghosts. Now, just keep walking, instructed Jiffy the Giraffe. There are ghosts. I know, hissed Slippy the Snake as she slithered to the mouth of the tunnel. Finally, they reached the end. Peas and Hoppy were very relieved. So was Sparrow.
They spotted a sign. But it wasnt very clear. They werent sure what it said. Most of the letters were gone.
Jumpy tried to read the sign upside down but he just got more confused. Slippy tried to read the sign but she couldnt understand what was written. Sparrow just sat on the sign. She was too tired to do anything. As the others were coming out of the Tunnel, Peas noticed a tree in the distance. Thats the Haunted Tree! shouted Jiffy. Hurray! shouted everyone. Hurray!
Shushhh! Dont shout! said Manny. We must be quiet. They walked to the Haunted Tree and knocked on the door. No one answered. The door was open and they all walked in. They climbed up the stairs, into the bedrooms and the kitchen. It was a magical Haunted Tree. It had so many rooms and windows in just one tree. Everyone poked their head out of a window.
Peas climbed to the top of the tree. Jiffy poked her head out of one of the highest windows. Slippy looked out and slithered to Jumpy from another window. Sparrow found some of her favourite insects on the tree trunk and fed herself. Manny kept peeping out of the door to check if anyone was coming.
Hoppy the Rabbit discovered a play-room and started playing with the blocks there. The others joined in. They swung on the swing. They wrote on the board with the chalk. They drew on paper with pencils and played hide and seek too.
Its not a Haunted Tree. Its a Play Tree. Sparrow squawked in delight for the first time.
Suddenly they heard a loud roar. ROOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRR! came the voice from somewhere. Everyone was puzzled. Its the ghost! Peas, Jumpy and Hoppy shouted. Delilah was scared and she hid behind her friends.
All of a sudden a tiger appeared before them. They were still scared.
Im Toby the Tiger, he introduced himself. I live in this house but you can stay here. Dont be afraid. I wont hurt you. Are you the ghost? asked Manny. Ghost? laughed Toby. Theres no such thing as ghosts my dear. This is my house. People think its haunted but dont worry, its not. Why do you stay alone here? asked Slippy.
I had been a teacher and this, my school. But Im too old now and the school was closed long ago. So I just live here now, replied Toby. Dont you get lonely? asked Trumpet. Of course, I get lonely. There are so many toys here and so many rooms that I dont know what to do with them. I would really like it if I had some company, said Toby. He sounded sad. Well come and visit you every day! exclaimed Delilah. But will you let us play with your toys? All the animals liked Delilahs suggestion. Yes, will you let us? they asked in chorus. Of course you may play whenever you want. I would love it if you visited me every day. I would not feel lonely, replied Toby. He sounded very happy. HURRAAAHHHHH! shouted all the animals. They were no longer afraid of the Haunted Tree. They visited Toby the Tiger every day. He told them stories and let them play with his toys. He also gave them all Milk and Cookies in the evenings. They were all happy.

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