The Castaway Pines

The Castaway Pines

The Cast: NARRATOR POPPA PINE MOMMA PINE BABY PINE LOGGER NARRATOR: Deep in the woods stands a family of three pine trees. Their branches are deep green and their limbs are straight. Two of the pines are fully grown, but the third is tiny-barely more than a shrub. Most of the forest has been cut down around them. The larger evergreen trees have been harvested, and they are the last.

The sleeping pines have their heads bowed and their eyes closed. The gentle sound of whispering wind blows through their branches. The Logger discovers the three pine trees, standing out in the nearly empty forest. LOGGER: Wow! Three pines, castaways, in a sea of evergreens. I never would have known they were here, until we harvested the Douglas firs and the blue spruce. Well, have I got a use for them!

NARRATOR: The Logger rushes away, as the tallest of the three pines shakes himself awake. POPPA PINE: Oh, what a wonderful, brisk winter's morning. No snow yet, but it's still early winter. I love snow. Tickles my boughs. NARRATOR: Poppa Pine stretches, as well as a tree can stretch, and looks around. POPPA PINE: Oh my, oh my! Psst! Momma? Are you awake?

NARRATOR: Momma Pine shakes her boughs and yawns. She looks down at the sleeping baby pine. MOMMA PINE: Yes, Poppa, now I am awake. Oh, isn't it the cutest thing? Seems like only yesterday that it was just a cone hanging in my branches. NARRATOR: Poppa Pine looks nervously over his shoulder. POPPA PINE: We may have a problem. I mean, a really big problem.

NARRATOR: Momma Pine looks at the baby, distracted. Eyes opened wide, she looks around but sees nothing. MOMMA PINE: And just what could that be, Poppa? It's not those pesky root weevils, is it? I just hate when they come buzzing around. They are so boring. I want to think that all creatures have their place in Nature's plan, but I don't know-weevils just get under my bark. Then it's nothing but itch, itch, itch.