Short stories from a stroll on a Tuesday afternoon

There is an old apple tree in the garden.
It is hollow inside and has grown wide.
Unbalanced, growing where it knows and has done for a while, still bearing fruit. Growing so much into a single direction that cracking or tipping over seems a natural conclusion.

A large old birch close by had been growing for long time. Majestic, three floors tall. A crack in the middle of the trunk. An inevitable ending. Too risky to wait. People, trees and houses could be crushed under it. So, it was cut and a small section of the trunk is there to support three vases with flowers.

Now that the shadow of the birch is no more, the old apple tree is starting to grow branches in other directions.

An expert in old apple trees was in the garden and helped us taking care of it. She cut large portions of the developed branch and told that the apple tree was looking for light and growing only where light was. By removing the shadow, the apple tree will naturally find a way to grow in a taller more balanced shape. Still, it makes sense to prune the unbalanced growth to allow the energy to be redirected.

There is an old man with whom I have a peculiar relationship. He is always sitting alone on a balcony in what I believe being his flat. I have never seen anyone else around him.

Every time I pass under the balcony, he says hi and exchanges a couple of words. Sometimes it is just a cheery sound. Sometimes he asked me if I liked flowers and when I answered that I do, he told me to take 7 of those flowers and put them under the pillow of my daughter while she sleeps; great things will come for her!

I like him. I wish him to be happy.

Today, I recognize him while I am walking and I am a bit surprised. It is the first time I see him outside. He is in a good mood, as every time I have seen him. We look at each other in the eyes and I approach to say "Hi!". Before I could say that, he looks at me and asks "Are you the shadow?". I don't know what to say, I am surprised. I am sure he must have asked me if I am IN the shadow; so I tell him that I am walking under the sun. He smiles again and points at the ground below me and repeats "Are you the shadow?". I look and it is clearly my shadow so I answer that I am the shadow. He looks at me in the eyes and smiles again. I say, "Have a lovely day!". He has already started walking away and mumbles a sound like the one I have precisely done.

I feel something important has just happened and go in the closest store, grab a piece of paper and write what was our short conversation, or maybe his pointing instruction.

I hear a pling pling behind me while walking. I feel my body first intrigued by an interesting sound and then slightly nervous at the approaching of it from behind.

After a moment I was passed by a couple of teenagers chatting. We were going the same way and I couldn't stop noticing the text on the back of one of the T-shirts.

It was in the 90s style and portrayed one of those messages you would hang on a noticeboard with small paper pieces hanging to be taken by the right reader.

The main text was: Are you searching for Beasties?
Just below: Choose what speaks to you!
And seven or eight paper pieces hanging with qualities like courage, honesty, respect.

After our paths diverge, I realize that out of the eight it is only those three I recollect.

I pass by a bakery with a outdoor tables. It is one of the most popular ones, the tables are empty. Nothing looks like it is popular on a summer afternoon in a university town.

I recognize someone sitting at the table. It is not that i know the person by name but I have seen her sitting in the exactly same spot many times while passing by.

She was sitting alone and with a gorgeous piece of cake. Her gaze was distant like in a far away land, and her foot was moving fast back and forth like it was running to keep up with something out of time.