Once upon a time...

...there was a piece of land, it was quite lovely, park-like.  It had tall shade trees, lush ferns, a tree house, tire swing, two other swings, a sandbox, creek, gazebo, two park benches, wood pile and shed.  Did I mention lots and lots of tall shade trees?  It was beautiful.

One day one of overseers of the land, got old and passed away.  The other overseer was in deep distress.  She loved the land, but since she had become old herself she knew she would not be able to oversee the land alone, and made the decision it was time to turn the land over to new, young overseers.

Oh my!  The new overseers decided to build a castle on the land. At first the old overseer was not concerned, there was room for the castle and the trees, although she knew some of the park things would have to go.  Woe, woe, one day large, yellow, rumbling, loud machinery appeared and much of the natural landscape disappeared.  Gone was everything but the creek, a few trees, the shed, the gazebo and two park benches.

The old overseer knew she had made the right decision to sell the land, but mourned the loss of the lands beauty.

Up went the castle.  Over the years different overseers held the land and castle.  Some beauty came back to the land, save for a tiny, misshaped triangle.  Slowly, quietly, years passed, the triangle became overgrown with ivy and blackberry vines...that eventually reached the old overseers fence, and it became her job to slay the dragon-like berries and vines to keep them from invading her tiny parcel of land and old cottage.

Then, one day, she saw a man walking the crooked triangle, and inquired if he needed assistance.   He was in a 'huff' like the wolf of old fairy tales, seeming annoyed that the old overseer had interfered.

Time passed.  Suddenly, one morning, the old overseer heard a noise, and she, although old, had not lost her sense of community, (she was nosy) went to see what was going asunder. Low, there were four men, with saws, clippers, and various other garden equipment...soon the triangle was cleared.  Old overseer was stunned, aghast, down right amazed.

A few days later the old overseer (could actually see) and spoke to the young overseer of the land, and was told he got a decree from the powerful lords of the kingdom, that since he had built a patio abutting an 'environmentally protected area' he was required to clear his parcel of 'invasive greenery'.  Fearing the lords of the kingdom, he had made it so.

The old overseer was filled with delight.  As good fairy tales go, old overseer is hopeful for a happy ending that the misshaped triangle will remain open, filled with seasonal color and be like an unexplored 'pirate island' where the new overseers heirs might play.

Old overseer can dream, can't she?

The end.