Fight for your life.

The Wishing Tree.

Part One:

Gnarled, knotted, with twisted limbs, her branches over up and out, in several arm like coils, no longer able to bear leaves or buds in the summer time, brittle if touched she may crumble and fall if pushed too suddenly by the strong coastal winds.

Her position among the bulls in the field, 20 feet from the iron fence on the secluded roadway  at Glasserton, outside the Town of Whithorn, Wigtownshire, meant that those who passed by who were out for the day or walking dogs along this dry and level dirt road sometimes hardly even knew that she was there, some of course did, those who had imagined her to a mystical entity due to he unusual demeanour may have thought wishes possible, but that sort of thing is only a fairy tail.

The last who had made his wish was about to receive it, she could not understand why this young man had wished for such a thing.  " I am here to serve!" her mantra ran through her structure.

The time approached.

Above her it started, lights, glistened and sparkled all around her extremities,  not bright or dazzling more green and subdued.  A mist fine and transparent emitted by the flashing luminous strangles of her ivy inflicted incarceration, the parasite had had its fill on this once sturdy oak.

Three miles away at 'Isle of Whithorn, a small fishing village at the foot of the Machars, Garry Fisher began to feel a little light headed, moments before he had been strolling, out walking the dog.  Before suddenly he had taken off very quickly with vertical trajectory way up into the night time sky.

Looking down to the orange tinged glow of the illuminated harbour below from his great height he could see that the tide was out, as it had been before his steep ascent.  He began fearing a messy fall Garry started to panic.  Many things went through his mind, very quickly, each one a milli-second long, sometimes he focused long enough to have an idea, "Just let go", but there was nothing to let go of.

Spinning for what felt like an eternity Garry felt himself slow down, now his worry was gravity, momentum must have run out.

Still, he stayed level, afraid to move, in case he should drop to a messy harrowing death.

Garry moved the index finger on his left hand very gently off of his clenched thigh with a flick!
His body began to rotate gently to the left, in control, he quickly started to feel a rush of confidence boosting energy. 

Realisation began to dawn on the lad, "I can f***** fly!" he yelled.

If you could fly, what would you do, where would you go?

Flying, with all of the ability of a swallow, spinning and turning at will, every instant deciding to change direction, in control, but how would you use it?


Out in the fields, She breathed easily, inhaling and exhaling she was beginning to realise what Garry had in mind, from so flippant a wish, a young man was now on the verge of greatness, "Stay to the Path Garry, don't be swayed"

Garry had made his wish in a moment of frivolity, his girlfriend, and he had been walking round the dirt roads of the Glasserton estate, the weather was warm and their laughing and joking with one another had been noticed by the tree as they had come close, sensing that her services may soon be requested she had paid attention, just in case she missed the impending wish.

"Garry what you doing ya maniac...?"  Rosie watched as her crazy fiance ran down the track ahead of her, arms up level and parallel he began to shout, so loud that the tree would have heard him from two fields yonder,  "I wish I could fly!" he said, little realising that sometimes in life wishes do come true.

If a wish such as this was given to me and by some accident I had chosen flight as my wish perhaps I would head for sunnier climbs, no thoughts of wearing my pants over my trousers, a super hero lauded by all, stopping crime.  Flight alone cannot stop crime, you need great strength and courage in abundance in order to have the confidence to carry it off.

Garry was a strong lad, years of labour on his fathers farm had ensured that he had bulked up during his teenage years and now standing on the verge of manhood he thought himself worthy and ready to take his place as a hero, protector.

The day after being granted this miracle, he flew north towards the central belt, scouring below with his eyes, visions of greatness and memories of movies flicked through his head, superman and spider man, true superheroes, Peter Parker and Clark Kent had nothing on him, his demeanour was not that of a slight or spectacle wearing nerd, he was robust and strong, confident and brave.

Way below him he thought he saw a commotion, he flew high above the large council estate known as Pollock on the south side of Glasgow, it was a Friday evening and a group of youths was involved in what can only be described as a gang fight.  As Garry hovered watching from above a lone figure darted from the affray and headed off, obviously keen to escape the attentions of three youths who had given chase.

This was his chance to shine, Garry made a beeline for the three, arrowing towards them with heroic intent, the youths got the fright of their lives as the large Wigtownshire man swooped over them and came to an uneven landing, tripping as he landed he fell onto the grass, the trio did not laugh or even say a word their shock at his arrival had been so frightening.

Garry stood facing the three, "Leave him along, ya bunch oh arseholes!" he exclaimed.

A rush of adrenaline pumped through Garry and he thought himself the bravest of the brave.

The next day the banner headline in the newspapers read as follows, 'MAN STABBED TO DEATH IN CITY PARK'

Even if given the power of flight and the courage to use it, make sure you can back up your claims to invincibility, a wee Glasgow Ned may still kill you, Buckfast and Bubbles may beat bravado and courage.

Be careful where and what you wish for.

The tree waits for you, patiently, gathering her power, many have wished over the last two hundred years or so, some have lived, some have died, she's made them happy and caused them to cry.  But one thing sticks in the survivors minds, a mystery of how and why they suddenly gained, wealth, love, great power or misfortune. If only they knew they might return, but they would be disappointed, one wish per soul is all she can grant.

AGL