The sun was already well up into the sky when Little Pine woke. As he peered out across the still waters of the lake, something felt different to him. He listened deeply, but he couldn’t quite tell what had changed.
His mother set a bowl of porridge before him and sat down by his side. “Little Pine,” she said softly, “The great oak released Red Leaf and his mother last night. They’ve gone back Home.”
“Oh, then that’s what’s different. I could tell that something had changed,” Little Pine said. For a few minutes, he sat quietly, letting the news sink in. He was surprised, but he knew that it was the time of year when all the hardwoods’ leaves returned to their true Home.
“I’ll miss him,” Little Pine said. “He was special.”
“I know,” Mother Pine said gently. “But you’ll feel his spirit beside you every time you think of him. Just wait and see.”
The mother and son sat in silence for a while, remembering all the wonderful times that they had spent with their friends. Forest creatures don’t mourn when their friends’ earth adventures come to an end. They know that the love they share connects them always, across all the dimensions and beyond all time. Only the human creatures believed that leaving their earthly forms meant good-bye forever.
Little Pine sat still for a moment, his thoughts focused on his friend. Then, remembering the previous day’s adventures, he chuckled and said, “Red Leaf sure had a great last day!”
Mother Pine smiled. “He sure did! And I’m so glad you got to spend it with him,” she said.
“Me, too,” Little Pine said. “Haha! Wait until the other leaves in Home World get to hear his report! They’re going to love it.” He took another bite of his porridge, still giggling inside as he imagined Red Leaf telling his leaf-friends in Home World all about his days in the forest.
“What shall we do to celebrate them, Mother?” Little Pine asked as last.
Mother thought for a few moments, then grinned. “I know! I’ll make a ground acorn cake for dinner in honor of Red Leaf’s mother. And you can find something special in the forest today to remind you of Red Leaf’s friendship always. Then, when we eat the cake, we can share stories about our friends together.”
“What a great idea, Mother!” Little Pine laughed. Then he finished his porridge and ran out the door, eager to see what special token he could find in honor of his friend.