P-The Mango Tree

THE MANGO TREE
By
Valerie Waldby

Two downcast little faces gazed wistfully out the playroom
window.
Jamie and Oliver, had been confined to the house all morning. It had
been raining since daybreak keeping the twins from playing outside.
Reading books, playing snakes and ladders and guessing games had kept
them occupied for a time, but the twins were eager to get to their
favourite place in the garden.

Wishing the rain away the boys again checked the weather, and their sad
faces changed to smiles as they spied the grey clouds scurrying across
the sky. The sun was breaking through, and a rainbow appeared to
brighten their day. Happy to be outside the twins raced each other to
see who would be first to reach their special spot. In a far corner of
the garden stood an old Mango tree, it had been planted by their
grandparents when they moved into the area about sixty years ago, and
for Jamie and Oliver this made the tree very special for them. Grandpa
had often told them about the Mango Tree, it being the first tree he
planted on arrival from England.

To the boys this tree was like a giant green umbrella, shading their
play area with a thick canopy of golden green leaves, and it's gnarled
out stretched branches made it a perfect tree for climbing. It was also
a haven to the many birds and animals that visited from time to time,
and at sunset the Mango tree became a very busy place.

Oliver and Jamie spent the afternoon climbing and swinging through the
tree, until their tired arms told them it was time for a break. Knowing
how hungry tree climbing can make them, the boys always carried a snack
in their backpacks.

Each boy had carved his name on his own special branch high in the
tree. Sitting astride their branches the boys hungrily munched on their
apples and raisins, relaxed and at rest in the seclusion of the tree.
Here they could let their imagination run wild, with each boy trying to
out do the other with wild and scary tales. Jamie was always trying to
scare his brother with stories of Wizards and Goblins with magical
powers who changed little boys and girls into toads and frogs. Haunted
houses and Ghosts were Oliver's favourite subject, as he tried to outdo
his brother's imaginative tales.

Their daydreams were broken when they noticed it was getting dark. The
twins knew it was time to head for home before daddy came looking for
them. After such an enjoyable day in their special place, the twins
were happy to leave their tree knowing there was always tomorrow for
more climbing.

As the boys hurried up the front steps, their Mother was there to greet
them.
"What have you two little imps been up to all afternoon? " She asked as
she smiled at her two grubby little boys.
"Just playing in our MANGO TREE" was their reply.

Lying in their beds a few nights later, swapping stories as they often
did , their chatter was interrupted by a strange sound carrying across
the garden. The curious boys raced to the window. The eerie echoing
call came from the Mango Tree.
"Let's go and see what it is " said Jamie to his brother.
"Yes lets", said an excited Oliver." Maybe it's a ghost? ''he added ,
trying to alarm him . Putting on their out door shoes, the boys
carefully opened the bed room window and scrambled down a drain
pipe.

"Don't make so much noise" whispered Jamie to his brother, who was
trying to mimic the sound coming from the Mango tree.
"If Mummy and Daddy wake up and catch us we'll be in a lot of
trouble.

As they approached the tree the odd sound drew their attention to the
dark outline of a large bird.
"Hoot, hoot" called the old owl as he looked down on the two startled
boys.
"There is your Ghost" said Jamie, "It's only an owl."
.
With that, the owl flapped his wings, and flew off into the night,
calling "Kooloo, Kooloo," as it disappeared in the darkness.

As the twin's eyes grew accustomed to the dark they became aware of how
busy and mysterious the tree had become. They had never seen it after
sunset before. High up in the branches fruit bats was feasting on the
blossoms in season. A number of o'possums also called the tree home and
were fossicking through the leaves looking for tasty morsels. On an
other branch mother and father Magpie were raising a family of three,
coming and going day and night, with food for their squabbling chicks.
The shrill call of the cicadas added to the hubbub.

Watching all the activity going on over their heads made the boys
realise they were not the only ones to enjoy the shelter and protection
the tree offered, and how it provided food for the many animals who
sheltered under its canopy.

Knowing they would be soon missed the boys silently climbed the drain
pipe back to their room. Mummy and Daddy had often warned them about
leaving the house at night, and they knew they would be punished if
they were caught. The punishment they feared most , was to be forbidden
to visit THE MANGO TREE. As quiet as mice they crept back to bed.