Photo prompt provided by Shivangi Singh
Douglas
“Can I do it? Please?”
Dad paused his shovelling to wipe the perspiration from his crinkled brow. “It’s too hot sweetie.”
I bounced around the tiny, potted fir as if Douglas really was the puppy I had begged for. “Please. You said he was mine.”
Dad smiled down at me before returning his efforts to the growing hole. “You get the most important job.”
“Huh?”
“You get to watch him grow. One day, he’ll be as tall as…”
“As me?”
He laughed. “As the roof!”
Eyes shaded from the glaring sun, I peered towards the lofty roof peak, knowing he was telling a huge fib.
It’s been two decades since Dad passed. The house went, but Douglas remained and so did I. No amount of protest could convince the homeowner’s association to save him. How could a lifetime of memories ever compete with a new swimming pool?
Sally-Ann Hodgekiss
Everything and Nothing 
I’m sorry Douglas didn’t make it. Sometimes HOAs aren’t particularly compassionate.
This is a wonderful story! I love how she compared the Douglas Fir to the puppy she had wanted. Very sad at the end when the HOA decided to get rid of the tree in order to put in a swimming pool. Wonderful! Welcome to the FFfAW challenge! We are happy you have joined us. 🙂
Excellent response Sally. These homeowners associations seem to rule the world don’t they. Thankfully we don’t have such things where I live.
A tragic end for Douglas. Excellent take.
Beautiful puppy and fir analogy here. A sad story told with finesse.
Very nice analogy. Too bad for Douglas.
I wish Douglas had survived. Great take!
I hope that the association was made to plant and nurture three young trees for each tree it felled
It’s a shame Douglas didn’t make it. It seems the priorities of the homeowners’ association were rather skewed. Good story. 🙂
sad when a part of your growing up gets destroyed – makes you realise the time that has passed – maybe new memories with the swimming pool?
HOA issues are tricky. So so tricky. I just wrote about a situation in my blog.