The Academy Tree
There is a hollow oak tree that has stood behind the Academy since the late 1800’s. It’s twisted, hollow, and almost dead. The school has designated a ten foot perimeter around the tree as off-limits for students due to safety issues. However, all of the students know the legend of the Academy Tree. It is rumored to whisper secrets of long ago and it will transport you to ages past. Only the daring will go near.
This particular legend became the topic of conversation at your cafeteria table during lunch. You decide to ditch Academy Time to go check out the tree for yourself. As you draw nearer to the tree, you could swear you heard someone asking, “Are you, are you coming to the tree?”
You disregard the posted warning to stay away. You tell yourself you will swoop in, touch the tree, and then return to class. As you draw near, however, you notice a hollow place in the tree similar to the one in To Kill a Mockingbird. To calm your nerves, you laugh at yourself, “Wouldn’t it be funny if there is treasure inside the knot hole?” You look in. There isn’t treasure, but there is a rusted latch. You turn the latch and the side of the tree opens. The temperature starts to drop, the wind begins kicking up. To get out of the wind, you step inside the tree. The side of the tree closes behind you. You step blinking into the sunshine of a small town. A billboard near the court house reads, “Welcome to Maycomb, Alabama”. A newspaper flutters by on the grass and the date near the top is July 10,1935. You realize with a start that you have stepped back in time to the setting of To Kill a Mockingbird.
You run frantically through the town desperately wondering how you are going to get back before you are missed. You see written on a mailbox, Atticus Finch. You look next door and see what you assume to be the Radley house. In front, near the sidewalk, is a familiar looking tree. Is this the way out? You get closer and peek into the hollow. Unfortunately for you, there is a set of locks and timer that is starting to count down. Can you unlock the locks in time to return home or will you be forced to live your life in the setting of To Kill a Mockingbird?
There is a hollow oak tree that has stood behind the Academy since the late 1800’s. It’s twisted, hollow, and almost dead. The school has designated a ten foot perimeter around the tree as off-limits for students due to safety issues. However, all of the students know the legend of the Academy Tree. It is rumored to whisper secrets of long ago and it will transport you to ages past. Only the daring will go near.
This particular legend became the topic of conversation at your cafeteria table during lunch. You decide to ditch Academy Time to go check out the tree for yourself. As you draw nearer to the tree, you could swear you heard someone asking, “Are you, are you coming to the tree?”
You disregard the posted warning to stay away. You tell yourself you will swoop in, touch the tree, and then return to class. As you draw near, however, you notice a hollow place in the tree similar to the one in To Kill a Mockingbird. To calm your nerves, you laugh at yourself, “Wouldn’t it be funny if there is treasure inside the knot hole?” You look in. There isn’t treasure, but there is a rusted latch. You turn the latch and the side of the tree opens. The temperature starts to drop, the wind begins kicking up. To get out of the wind, you step inside the tree. The side of the tree closes behind you. You step blinking into the sunshine of a small town. A billboard near the court house reads, “Welcome to Maycomb, Alabama”. A newspaper flutters by on the grass and the date near the top is July 10,1935. You realize with a start that you have stepped back in time to the setting of To Kill a Mockingbird.
You run frantically through the town desperately wondering how you are going to get back before you are missed. You see written on a mailbox, Atticus Finch. You look next door and see what you assume to be the Radley house. In front, near the sidewalk, is a familiar looking tree. Is this the way out? You get closer and peek into the hollow. Unfortunately for you, there is a set of locks and timer that is starting to count down. Can you unlock the locks in time to return home or will you be forced to live your life in the setting of To Kill a Mockingbird?