Such a small little pine tree, hoping for the day to grow tall. Doesn’t want to stay small forever. A child named Chilbert noticed the little pine tree, he’s just as small as the tree itself. “What a small little tree!” He said.

The other kids weren’t impressed. They tell him, “It’s just a tree. What makes it special?”. Chilbert replied “Well this tree wants to grow big and strong! It’s a little pine tree that wants to dream big!” They still dismiss the idea, and all walked back to the orphanage. Chilbert followed, but looked back at the little pine tree, smiling to make sure the tree could grow taller than its own size.

Chilbert thought, “maybe you need something…” So he leaves for a while and grabs a watering can to tend the little pine tree. “Don’t worry, the water is not too cold” he assures, and pours the water on it. “The sun is going to show up when the clouds are done riding the sky. I’ll see you tomorrow, little pine tree!” Chilbert leaves the tree, feeling content that he helped a soul out.

At the Orphanage, he was packing newspapers for his side hustle. He’s one of the few Snowbuddies who sell them, so that he can help the care takers maintain the place and the children living there. His caretaker, Ms. Haylee, found him in his bed, preparing. She got worried when he went out for a while and said, “There you are, Chilly! Where have you been?” Chilbert turned around and explained, “Me and the other kids saw a little pine tree, it was much smaller than us!”

Ms. Haylee became curious, “A little pine tree… this could mean that this tree just started its life. A life that will last hundreds of years.” She explains. Chilbert yelps in surprise, “Hundred years?! Trees can live that long, Ms. Haylee?”. Haylee confirmed, “They do!”. She explains that “Depending on how sturdy, and tall the pine tree is, the tree can live much longer. Maybe even much longer than other trees.”

This got Chilbert excited and is determined to care for the tree so that it can reach that point with no problem. “I can’t wait to see that!” He exclaims. However, Ms. Haylee halted due to the start of bedtime. “You can find out tomorrow. You need some rest, so that the little pine tree can rest, too.” she said, so Chilbert obliged.

Chilbert saw the little tree grow from a distance, a few small inches is enough to show change. The boy would keep tending it at times of need, and always stays close to the little pine tree after work. The tree began to tower. Chilbert was happy, and he played around it. Thinking this will make the little pine tree happy too. The other kids rolled their eyes and continued their daily business, however, a few started to notice the tree’s growth.

The little pine tree was able to become a sapling that is now taller than any Snowbuddy. Ms. Haylee is impressed by the tree’s lovely dark teal leaves and the hard work from Chilbert as he shows the tree itself to her, and she could hope that it can stand on its own. As Chilbert returned home, he felt very content. He knew that the sapling will become a great pine tree that won’t be so little anymore. On the next day, something shocking happened. And that is…

The little pine tree was GONE!

Chilbert exclaimed, “Oh no! Where did you go, little pine tree!” He got scared and started running. Finding spots on where it went. Unfortunately, no sight of the sapling can be found outside Snowyland. So went back to tell Ms. Haylee about the bad news, and she was surprised that the tree was gone. “Really!? How did it disappear?” she said. Chilbert replied, panicking, “I… I don’t know!! I think it started to walk on its own and ran away!!” as he begins to get extremely worried.

Ms. Haylee thought “But that’s impossible, trees cannot walk if their roots are in the ground…” So she followed the panicking Chilbert as he went to search for the little pine tree. “Little pine tree, Little pine tree!! Where did you go!?” He shouted, but there’s still no sign of it. He had no choice but to check the town as a last ditch effort to find it.

He looked all over in his hometown, and nothing came of it. Ms. Haylee huffed, feeling a little irritated by how quick he runs, but feels terrible for him. As he cared for the tree with pride and joy. Ms. Haylee quickly realized they were at the main plaza of their hometown. She notices the child sitting down, exhausted and sad. She was saddened how the tree he cared for suddenly disappeared, until she looked up and saw what was under him.

It’s the little pine tree! How in Snowland did it end up there! She knows it’s the same tree, because of its wonderful dark teal leaves. “Chilbert! Look behind you.” Chilbert slowly looked around, and his eyes completely widened, he gasped “Little pine tree, there you are!” he hugged the sapling with joy, Ms. Haylee smiled and could not help but hug the tree as well.

Ms. Haylee thought of a theory and told Chilbert that “Maybe, the town needed a landmark outside the plaza, so we decided to give the little pine tree a place where it can be greeted and loved.” He thought this might be it, but still wonders why they chose the tree specifically. But that doesn’t matter, the plaza has lots and lots of space for the tree to grow. So Chilbert will always come back to the plaza to keep tending the tree until it becomes tall and strong.

And so it did. The tree was big, but there’s still a lot of space for the Snowbuddies to stroll around. All the children who once dismissed the little tree were suddenly amazed by how tall it grew, and that’s enough for them to appreciate the tree and even Chilbert. They all went out and played carefully around the tree, enjoying its presence on the calm winter day.

The little pine tree had never been so happy.

The End