My name is Sebastian… Sebastian Oak. I am about to tell you a tale full of horror. I implore you ,yes implore you, to find another story. Preferably one with a happy ending with sunshine and happy trees, for this one does not. I warned you. You’re still reading. Very well then.

This story all began years ago when I was planted in a forest and when I grew to become a sapling. Those were good days filled with innocence oh yeah and slightly annoying squirrels. They couldn’t wait to climb me when I got big enough. I remember the day so well. It was early in the morning when I saw a beaver. Since I wasn’t very tall I could see him quite well. He slowly waddled over to one of my friends. Her name was Mable Acer. She was kind, one of my best friends, and a little dramatic. The beaver looked at her, seemed pleased and promptly started to gnaw at her trunk. I was astounded, which means to be in shock or be greatly surprised. Mable was in too much shock to cry out in pain until finally she did. The beaver finally stopped and went in the direction of which he came.

“Mable, are you okay?” I asked nervously.

“Yes I am okay! But it does hurt.!” she replied.

“Why did he do that?”

“Probably because there was a deficiency of food, which means that there is a lack of or shortage of food.”

“What is that liquid coming out of you?”

“Oh No!!!” She shrieked. “It's my blood! It's a circulating fluid that transports nutrients, sugar and water, and helps me to survive! What am I going to do?!”

You can see why this event has stayed with me throughout the decades. It was very traumatic especially when you are a young tree and are innocent to the ongoings of life. Unfortunately, this incident led to an even more tragic event. It happened one week later. Only if those kids would have stayed home.

It was a semi warm day when my conversation with my neighbor Red Acer was interrupted when a dog bounded between us and three children followed, panting.

“Let’s take a break! We’ve been running after this animated dog, which means to be full of life and action. What is it that you’re looking at, Sephie?” said the girl who was the tallest of the three.

A girl about 6 was kneeling down and looking at Mable’s wound.

“What is this sticky stuff that seems to be coming out of the tree?”

The boy spoke up to answer the little girl’s question.

“That is sap. It’s like the blood of the tree because it helps it stay alive. No, don't lick it!”

“It’s sweet though, Hugh!”

Let me again bring up that this child was liking the blood of my friend! How unthinkable! Anyways the tallest looked at her watch and told the rest of them that they should get home really soon for it was almost super time. Sadly enough that wasn’t the only time that I would see those children. They were back the very next day with a bucket. What I guess from their conversation was that Sephie wanted some of my friend's blood for a treat. Her parents told her that they had to boil it first to hopefully get rid of all the impurities. Boil it, yes that was their solution. Once they placed the bucket under her still bleeding wound they left.

There is still time to stop reading and go on to another more happy story, maybe one about kittens or bouncy balls. Please, you don't have to hear the end. It gets even more unfortunate from here.

Very well then I will continue.

The very next day the three children were back but with more supplies. I remember seeing wood, matches, a rake, a shovel, a pot, a grate, a spoon, welding gloves, a jar, a bowl, a ladle, and a filter. They took the bucket which they had taken earlier and poured it into the bowl through the filter and then poured Mable’s blood into the pot. The three children worked together to rake away anything that could catch fire on the ground. They didn't have to worry about overhead because they were in the clear midst of a forest. They dug a hole in the ground and at the edge of the adjacent sides put a log and placed the grate on top. Afterwards they started a fire and set the pot on top. The children I guess got bored and decided to go explore more of the forest. They didn't come back for hours. Finally they came back.

“Oh no! I think we burned it!” said the tallest.

“Let me taste it, Amalie !’ Piped up Sephie.

“First let’s filter it.” said Hugh.

Hugh pulled on the gloves, filtered Mable’s blood for the second time, took the spoon and dipped it in Mable’s boiled blood and waited for it to cool. Then he handed it to her.

She licked it and a smile slowly came over her face.

“It tastes even sweeter and more delicious!”

Hugh and Amalie tasted it and exclaimed “It’s delectable, which means delicious!”

They poured the remainder, which wasn’t much, of Mable’s boiled blood into the jar and packed everything else up and put out the fire.

Mable was looking at the fire pit in astonishment, shock, and terror. I completely empathized with her for no tree should ever go through something so unfortunate. There is no doubt in my mind that those children told their parents and the word spread. In only a couple more days even more people came to make what they call Maple Syrup which in this case is Mable syrup.

Years went on and without fail every single late winter early spring people would come ,along with those children, to harvest blood from any tree out of the Acer family. During that time of year a tree can hear cries of affliction, which means pain or suffering.

A few years ago those children and their parents decided to have a picnic. They wanted to celebrate the 20th anniversary of discovering Mable’ blood. They brought a stove and cooking supplies along with a blanket for the ground. They made fluffy, round, golden things that they drizzled with Mable’s blood. Presently the mom asked, “Who wants pancakes?” I warned you. This is a very sad tale that is still happening today.