The assignment for today, April 27, 2020, in the Keep Writing Challenge, was to write a 250-word (exactly) short story about "leaves." Here is what I submitted:
The Money Tree
She looked closer and realized that this tree was growing dollar bills instead of leaves and quarters instead of acorns.
Susan had awakened early that morning with a jackhammer in
her temples and a nervous tingle in her chest. Finding it impossible to sit
still, she’d thrown on yesterday’s clothes and ventured into the woods behind
her new home.
Now she stared in disbelief at the sight before and above her. She
bent and picked up a quarter to evaluate its heft. It felt right. It looked
right. Was it real? Would it spend? The dollar bill she picked up next had a
ragged edge and felt brittle in her hand. She looked around for a fresher one
but saw only pine needles and quarters scattered generously on the ground. How
could she get to the dollar bills hanging in profusion above her? Could she shake the tree to dislodge the
bills? Perhaps, but the trunk appeared sturdy and unshakable.
The construction crew in her head refused to give the
jackhammer a break, the noise drowning out her thoughts. The tingle in her
chest moved down her arms and up into her neck. Reality faded in and out until
Susan gave up the struggle to remain on her feet and sank to the ground and
leaned wearily against the tree trunk.
Susan slowly became aware of a breeze tickling her cheek and
sat up straighter. Where was she? Why was she in the woods holding an acorn and
a leaf?
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