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The Almond Tree

Based on the brothers Grimm fairytale, "The Almond Tree" explores the life of a 50s housewife spiraling out of control when she accidentally-on purpose kills her stepson in jealousness. Exploring the dark parts of living in middle class society in 1953, "The Almond Tree" takes the stereotypical 50s stereotype and tosses it out the window. But what does the boys sister Marjorie have to do with this? And what's up with that particular baby bird who was mysteriously born the moment after the boy died? What about the ghostly singing that haunts the town? Would you be willing to find out?

Midnight_Raven123 · Urban
Not enough ratings
4 Chs

The perfect couple

"it's horrible"

The woman said as she raised a delicate finger to stroke the white wallpaper.

"White wall paper in the kitchen!"

Her hands felt their way up to the dent and lightly pulled it loose.

"It's glued badly at that."

A man put his hand on her shoulder, reasurirng but stern

"C'mon Susie it's just a color."

The woman brushed off his hand and stared back around at him in complete shock.

"It's not just a kitchen, it's the soul of the house. And I can't have white wall paper!"

The man rolled his eyes playfulling and pretended to take a good look at the wall, Wich made the woman laugh lightly.

"Hm.... I see the most high quality paper."

He squinted his eyes while frowning slightly.

"Dam, don't you get it? This must have been designed by a man!"

The man chuckled and his green eyes twinkled in the sunlight.

"How would you tell?"

The woman placed her hands on her hips, her long dark hair flew back and forth. She wore it down, much to the dismay of her many friends.

"Long straight hair isn't the fashion Susan"

They would say. But Susan never played any attention, she liked her hair the way it was.

So did damion. Damion liked they way it was different. He didn't like the heavily styled hair, the dyed blonde wigs. He liked the way he never heard is wife say,

"Oh no my hair!"

She never complained about it.

"It's white! In a kitchen!"

The man named Damion looked around with his hands in his hips in a mock impression.

"That's nothing to stick your nose at, it's wallpaper!"

The woman threw her hands up before slamming her hand on the stove.

"This is! Look! The stove is directly Bellow the paper!"

The man frowned slightly.

"Your point?"

The woman groaned in annoyance and frustration

"What do you think is going to happen Damion?"

The man shrugged his shoulders.

"Gray! Gray! It's going to turn gray!"

She spun around pointing at every bit.

"It's going to look like we don't clean! All the smoke and steam! What will Lorelei and Marilyn say?"

The man sighed and leaned against the little refrigerator, newest model. This one was 3 feet! Quite the update.

"Susie doosie can we just focus on getting everything ready?"

Susan shook her head and pointed at the paper.

"But-!!"

A chubby man squeezed through the narrow hallway.

"Ma'am we have the table in the living room. Is there anything else?"

Susan's face turned white.

"The living room!? No no no! I told you the side room! The living room carpet will get indented! Its not a good layout either- the table in the living room! Whoever heard of such nonsense!-"

The woman's blabbering was slowly muted as she pushed the little man along the tiny hallway.

The man leaned against the counter and smiled at the little home he had bought in a nice neighborhood, perfect for raising a family.

"Paul Paul! Look at this!"

Susan's call came from outside, Damion grabbed his hat and walked through the chaotic house.

There were boxes stacked every Wich way. A vanity sat in the living room and dam swore he could see the little kitchen stool in the bathroom.

Wondering what this could be now, he opened the back door.

Susan was standing with her apron in her hand. Staring at the sad tree.

She felt it's sadness. The tree was dead. The light seemed to skip it, deciding to burn the flowers instead. The trees leaves were curled and brown. Even in august this was odd.

Her eyes were transfixed on the thing. But it wasn't a 'thing' to her. She swore she could feel it breathing, the wind softly whooshing through it's crumpled leaves. A few fell here and there..

Her slender hands brushed the low branches. The tree was slightly taller than she, it seemed to lean in her direction.

The tree was lonely, as if it needed something, a purpose. Susan held one hand on the tree and pulled her other hand to her stomache. She and Damion has been trying for a baby for 2 years, but it was never successful. Still, they tried. She felt drawn to the tree. As of her, the tree didn't have it's baby's.

"What type is it?"

Asked Damion squinting against the sun.

"I uh... I'm not an expert but it looks like an almond tree."

"An almond tree? Where are the almonds?"

The woman spoke suddenly, in a thick tone.

"It couldn't produce this year."

Damion reached forwards and pulled Susan into a hug.

She held onto his warmth and whimpered into his coat.

"I just want a baby dam.... That's all I want."

Her voice was shaky and she almost fell asleep her knees weakend.

"It's ok Susie.. we are finnally married and we have this nice house.. maybe this is a chance to finnally try again."

Susan nodded and drew in a deep breath. She turned to face the almond tree, the light was shining on it for the first time. The leaves seemed.. greener in the light. Fewer fell. Susan took a deep breath and smiled sadly at the lonesome tree.

"Another try."