Saving Charlie

On a quiet little street in a small town in Southwestern Ontario, there was a cute little house with a large front yard. A blue spruce evergreen tree named “Charlie” stood tall and proud. Inside the little house on the front windowsill, sat a beautiful, antique candy dish. This was home to two colourful, very active candy canes named Jax and Mia. “Good morning, Jax!” “Good morning, Mia!” “Did you sleep well?” “Yes, thank you, I did,” Jax replied. “I overheard the humans talking this morning, Jax and it’s very disturbing news.” As Mia starts to cry and tears roll down her face, Jax asked “Oh Mia, what’s wrong?” “The humans say Charlie is looking very old and tired lately and they discussed cutting him down.” “Oh, Mia how could they think that? Charlie has been a happy and healthy blue spruce evergreen in our front yard forever. A landmark that has provided shelter and a home for many of our bird friends. He’s been the pride of the neighbourhood.” “I just don’t know, but we must do something, Jax.” “What do you suggest, Mia?” “I have to think. We must come up with something.” We need to freshen him up and make him look young again, Mia thought. “Maybe we could talk with Charlie and tell him how important he is, to us, to the neighbourhood and to all the birds that call him their home,” Mia stated. “That’s a great idea, Mia. Everyone needs to feel important and wanted.” So Jax and Mia talked with Charlie and expressed how important and vital he was to all his friends and the neighbourhood. They also chatted with the birds living in Charlie’s branches and asked them to help gain Charlie’s confidence back. Jax and Mia have a special way of communicating with their friends. All they have to do is call their name and they “Wake Up.” They then carry on a conversation and listen to each other right from their heart. A few days had passed by and even with everyone’s help, Charlie didn’t seem to be feeling any better about himself. So Jax and Mia had to come up with another plan. “Jax, I don’t think our plan is working. Charlie is still looking dull and lifeless. We have to think of something else.” “You’re right Mia. Charlie just looks very unhappy.” “Jax, we can’t let Charlie get cut down. I’d miss him so much,” Mia sniffled. “He’s been there proud as can be every morning when I wake up. I look out the window and say “Hello Charlie, good morning,” just like I do you, Jax.” Then, like a flash of lightning, another idea came into Mia’s head. “WAIT, WAIT, Jax I got it, I got it.” “What, what Mia. What have you got?” “Another idea!” “Oh, oh what Mia?”