

mr. tree{?}...................felicity{f}
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"What other toys do you have?" Lilliana asked, rummaging through my stuffed animals, a smile plastered to her face. "Those..." I replied, glancing over to my bed. "...and Mr. Tree." Lilliana looked up, a curious expression crossing her face. "...Mr. Tree? Well, that's a silly name. What is he?" She asked, putting down a stuffed polar bear. I walked over to my bed, running my fingers over the laced quilt my grandmother had made me when I was a baby. "He's a jack-in-the-box." I said, my voice hushed as my fingers found their way to Mr. Tree. Lilliana jumped, and came racing over next to me. "Really?! I just love those!" She exclaimed, reaching over to grab him. "Na na na, na na-na-na-na! Na, na na, na na... nah!" She sang, imitating the "pop goes the weasle" song they would make when you wound them up. "No!" I exclaimed, batting her hand away. "He's... different." She rubbed her hand, narrowing her eyes into slits. "Really? How so?" I paused, picking Mr. Tree up and putting him in my lap. "Mr. Tree doesn't sing the song you were humming earlier... the weasle one..." I said, leaning my head to the side as I stroked his box gingerly. "Well, then, what song does he play?" Lilly inquired, curious eyes scanning the box. "...here, listen." I told her, placing my hand on the handle. I turned it, and a familiar melody resonated from the music box.
"Pling, plink.... pling, plink... plunky plinky pling.... plingy plinky plunk..... plingy plinky plunk.... pling, pling... plink plunky plunk... plink, plunky plingy plunk... plunky plinky pling plunk, plinky plingy plunk..." The familiar face of Mr. Tree popped out of the box, his saddened face gazing at Lilly. And then it was like... he came to life. It's what happened every time- I had no reason to be suprised. But Lilly did. His mouth opened, and with a gritty voice, a song he did begin to sing- "Are you, are you... coming to the tree? Where they strung up a man, they say murdered three. Strange things did happen here- no stranger would it be... if we met up at midnight at the hanging tree. Wear a necklace of rope, side by side with me. Strange things did happen here... No stranger would it be, If we met up at midnight... in the hanging tree." I quickly closed the box, seeing the look of horror on Lilly's face. We sat in silence, all the while I stroked Mr. Tree's home. "I told you he was different." I said, an offer to break the uncomfortable silence. "And, anyways, that's why I call him Mr. Tree." Lilly looked back at the door, and back at me. "I- I should go home." She muttered, getting up off of my bed. I hugged Mr. Tree closer. "Bye." I whispered to her, softly. Lilly raised a hand in an attempt to wave goodbye, but quickly returned it back to her side. She opened the door, walking out, closing it behind her. I could hear her rushed footsteps as she ran down the stairs- it happened with all of my friends. I had gotten used to it. I opened Mr. Tree's box, and he popped out, his blue eyes warm and sorrowful. "Mr. Tree... won't you sing for me?" I whispered, my fingers tracing the delicate designs painted on his face. He smiled, taking his tiny wooden hands and placing them on my finger. "I'd do anything for you, Felicity. Anything at all."
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"Hanging Tree" Written by Suzanne Collins. This story has nothing to do with the hunger games, I just used the song. :3 Enjoy!~