THE TREE OF ENLIGHTENMENT

By Allen C. Rolle

The Tree is a place where birds can achieve their potential due to the dedication of birds who believe that learning is the key to success. Sometimes, it takes the appreciation of struggles to achieve progress. It takes trust and dedication by others who you may not believe have your best interest. It takes belief in yourself and the willingness to learn in ways you never thought you could to assist in your growth.

Through humor, trust, and faith, the birds of the Tree find that they can achieve the type of changes in their lives that will be beneficial in years to come. The Tree will make you laugh, cry, and shake your head. More importantly, it will entertain you in familiar and simple ways that will have you thinking for years to come.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Newman Springs Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9798887639697

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Chapter 63

Chapter 64

Chapter 65

Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Chapter 67

Chapter 68

Chapter 69

Chapter 70

Chapter 71

Chapter 72

Chapter 73

Chapter 74

Chapter 75

Chapter 76

Chapter 77

Chapter 78

Chapter 79

Chapter 80

Chapter 81

THE TREE OF ENLIGHTENMENT

Allen C. Rolle

Copyright © 2023 Allen C. Rolle

All rights reserved

First Edition

NEWMAN SPRINGS PUBLISHING

320 Broad Street

Red Bank, NJ 07701

First originally published by Newman Springs Publishing 2023

ISBN 979-8-88763-968-0 (Paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88763-969-7 (Digital)

Printed in the United States of America

To the Buddha, the Funky Chicken, the Man from Black, and the Carrasquillo for their lifelong support and inspiration

Chapter 1

The Tree of Enlightenment is a long-established center of diverse learning. Birds of all species are sent there to learn various crafts and vocations to help them cope with the world. It is administered by the governmental body called the Great Embodiment. The program started some fifty years ago by a wise and venerable owl, Edward Stewart Allen, lovingly referred to as ESA. He believed in spreading the opportunity of all species to neglected ones, especially birds. His mantra was Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is rare.

Watusi, the wild turkey, is the current administrator of the Tree. He is four feet by four feet. He's big for a turkey with black shiny feathers and a gobble that is occasionally hard to understand. He is intelligent but rigid, and his social skills are occasionally questioned. He was bred across the ocean in the Dark Continent. He has a reputation as a fixer but alienates many with his management style.

Watusi is replacing a longtime administrator by the name of Genoa. Genoa was a proud quail who was a longtime member of the staff of the Tree and worked her way to the head administrator. There were questionable activities under her watch, and she was being transferred to avoid any adverse scrutiny. She was popular with her executive cabinet but not very well-known in the student body, unless there was a disciplinary problem. She is moving on to another Tree with reservations.

Watusi is preparing for his first meeting with his administrative cabinet. He has studied their personnel files and anticipates some resistance. The cabinet has seven members who run the operations of the Tree. He needs to add a deputy administrator, who will be second-in-command, and act in his stead. He believes this could be done after he sees the landscape of his new position.

The big seven have interesting strengths and accomplishments. First is Mustang, the dean of discipline. Mustang is a condor with military training. He believes in the rules and rigid discipline from not only the students but the staff. He is an imposing figure with a sixteen-foot wingspan, which allows him to out fly most birds and corral any stray birds that fly the coop. He has an imposing stare and hardly ever smiles. He is the law of the Tree. What most birds don't know is that he is a loyal friend and has a deep commitment to the success of every bird in the Tree; he rarely shows his true feelings.

Roscoe is an emu from the land down under. He doesn't fly anymore and is head of the houses and perches which house the student birds. He is well-spoken and has had assignments in trees all over the world. He can be brash and has a history of injuries while associating with the student birds. He has had numerous conflicts with the Great Embodiment over medical expenses and security concerns. He is always looking for a promotion and has been over looked by previous administrations. Some find him argumentative, but he always has a factual basis in presenting his concerns. His former students call him the night warden because he never goes home.

Chollo is a yellow canary who is the head of security. He is a former head of the national carrier pigeon brigade who ferried messages in the last foreign conflict. He has been with the Tree for over ten years. He has a reputation for loving the female birds, asking them out for dates several times, telling tall tales, and never being available during nocturnal crises. He is decorated by the national government for bravery. The specifics of the award remain confidential.

Ramona is a medical and counseling professional. She is a peacock famous for her full and colorful plume. She sometimes is distracting because she spends more time telling everyone who will listen how wonderful she is and has an office full of mirrors. She can be very efficient and equally hard to deal with.

Andi is the personnel director. She is a leggy pink flamingo. She is the bird who does all hiring and firing in the Tree. She speaks seven languages and is the informal ambassador and diplomat of the Tree. She mediates disputes and keeps the outside forces in check. She loves pink ribbons and vests on every day around her long legs.

Avatar is an erne. He is the academic and vocation training person. He is an academic and social worker by training. He is a religious zealot at times but has a good relationship with the majority of the student body. He is an avid transatlantic flyer and participates in numerous international competitions. He is also a connoisseur of fine wines and drinking water that many have questioned his sobriety over the years.

Frieda is the financial officer of the Tree. She is a Rhode Island Red hen who is a whiz with figures and budgets; she accounts for every dime and pays attention to every detail. Unfortunately, she is a horrible gossip. She claims to know everyone's business and seeks to update her information on a daily basis. She has been known to be the source of much dustups by spreading the word whether people wanted to hear it or not.

Watusi had his administrative assistant, the very glamorous Carmen, the cockatoo, send out notices to the cabinet. The usual meeting place is the top northwest branch of the Tree. He made it a point not to have any refreshments since he believed these things took away from the attention span of the participants. He wanted to get off on the right foot with his new subordinates or at least the footing he wanted to establish.

The cabinet filed in with Chollo making the most noise chirping, You ladies are lovely. It's a great day for a meeting. I'm free after the meeting. Seed is my creed, and I will offer to watch you feed.

Everyone literally ignored him, and Chollo just hunched his wings and perched himself opposite Frieda. No agenda was given out. Watusi flew to the entrance and set himself at the customary head of the table. Watusi began. "Gobble, gobble. Nobody talks at my meetings! No one. You haven't earned the right to speak until I believe your performance warrants it."

The all looked at each other in dismay. Then then he gobbled, "Nobody!"

Ramona chimed in, Wait a minute. You don't just—

And Watusi cut her off. "These are my rules. Nothing should cross your beaks unless I ask you a question."

Mustang started to intervene but thought to himself, Is he testing us, or is this who he is? Let's see where this is going.

Watusi continued, "The performance of this Tree is much to be desired. If it was at all satisfactory, I would not be here. You will receive a new operations manual from me as to operating procedures in every area, and I will personally meet with each of you to see if there is any ambiguity or lack of understanding. Any further insubordination will be met with the appropriate disciplinary action up to and including termination."

The meeting ended with looks of dismay and grumbling as each cabinet member flew to their designated areas and perches. Out of nowhere, Watusi growled at Avatar and stated, You're first. Be ready in the morning.

Avatar just shook his head and thought sarcastically, This going to be great.

He closed his eyes and said his own serenity prayer.

Great bird in the heavens,

Give me the strength to show him his path

Temper his foul mouth. Resist the urge to kick him south

And the wisdom not to put him in a turkey fryer!

Chapter 2

It was a great day for a survey of the grounds that encompassed the Tree. The Tree itself is in the center of thirty-three acres of land that makes up the Great Enlightenment. Avatar met Watusi in his perch. No pleasantries were exchanged. Watusi, in his usual fashion, just gobbled, Let's get this show on the road.

Avatar's first destination was the Nest Building Department. Here the young birds, which were mostly sparrows, learned the art of nest building, food storage, tree and shrub conservation, cultivation of insects for food and recognition of those that were detrimental to plant life, and tree growth and restoration. They were fully versed in all safety measures and regulations by the local and national governmental authorities.

The department was instructed by Taco, the woodpecker. Taco was from the jungles of southern region and had a deep but authoritative accent. He was well versed in his craft and had degrees in finance and not-for-profit nest-building and related structures.

Watusi looked around the facilities, counted the students, made notes on a pad, and mumbled. He then asked Taco, Why are there only sparrows in this department?

Taco respondent sarcastically, Because they are the only ones who appreciated hard work, the worth of example, and the dignity of simplicity!

The student roared with approval. Watusi was taken aback by both the response of the students and the statement of Taco.

All he could was react with, I am the new administrator of the Tree. You will all address me in a civil tone. There will be new directives and protocols for this department and every other. And you will all hear from me.

Watusi took flight with Avatar in tow. After about five minutes of silence, Avatar stated, You could have addressed them differently! They deserved praise for their work and their accomplishments.

Watusi ignorantly said, In my opinion, they don't need praise. They need to work harder and produce better results!

A sparrow passed the two heading for class and heard the conversation. He related what he heard to his classmates. Some of the proud little birds started to cry. Taco then flew to the front of the class and said, Repeat after me.

Fat black turkey with scrawny legs

Don't know nothing and can't even lay eggs

Should've stayed home and rot in his tree

Don't know anything's and can't hurt me!

The sparrows laughed and perked up and all shouted, "Builder's rule!"

Taco smiled from and stated, Let's get back to work. You're the best!

The next stop of the tour was culinary arts section. The aroma of fine cuisine immediately hit the beaks of the two birds. This department was headed by Pierre Grande, the whip-poor-will. Pierre was a former head preparer at the Audubon Center for Aerial Delights, a five-star eatery. He had served and prepared for politicians, celebrities, musicians, and bird royalty for over thirty years. He had won numerous awards for presentation, taste, hygiene, and originality. He had created unique ways of using bird seed and fine grains for gourmet consumption. Despite all these accomplishments, he had episodes of lack of confidence.

These episodes were rare but sometimes showed up in incidences where uniform individuals criticized without cause. Birds of all species wanted to learn from him and create their own reputation for serving and creating great meals.

Pierre was in the middle of teaching baking of gourmet bird biscuits. With the right care and temperature, these will melt in your beaks.

When the two perched in front of the instructor, he immediately stopped and stared bowing and fluttering, Good to see you, good to see you. Can we offer you, can we offer you?

Avatar was about to help himself when Watusi stated, We're not here for that! How many students can you complete in the next ten days? What do they learn besides fancy sauces and crumbs? Why aren't you wearing government-issued aprons?

Pierre stuttered and stumbled in surprise and said, They were the uniforms of gourmets. The uniforms are big, big, cumbersome, cumbersome, and have to be fitted. Pierre started to cry. Tears came down his feathers.

Oh no, you don't! You don't express emotion in front of these students. Avatar, fine him, suspend him, dock him, marinate him!

The students rushed to their instructor in support. Betty, the grouse, one of his best students, whispered, You want us to pin him, set his fat feathers on fire, and pour salt on his wiggly gobbled head?

No, no! Get back to work. Get back to work, he ordered his students.

Mr. Watusi, Watusi, you need a course in hospitality and courtesy. These students can give it to you free of charge, free of charge…

Watusi was just about to lay into Pierre and Avatar when Betty and another student Rocky Raven stepped up and said in the innocent of voices, Mr. Watusi sir, we would like to make a peace offering. We will volunteer to make you a special cake and give a full present in your perch to make up for any lack of courtesy you believe you received on this visit. It is a clear indication of the talent and reverence you deserve and should have been accorded on this visit.

Watusi thought for a moment, looked at Pierre and Avatar and back at the student, and said, I'll expect that special cake by the end of business today. The students nodded, and Watusi left with Avatar close behind.

Rocky and Betty looked as the two officials flew off in the horizon and said, Special cake, huh? Get the ex-lax for flavor, the ipecac, and salt peter for taste. It goes great with fudge frosting! (Pierre heard this and pretended he knew nothing but smiled.)

I don't think much of your staff. They seem to lack certain tenets of respect, and I think you should consider a massive change. The huge turkey had very little else to say as he approached their next destination. Avatar kind of liked the instructors under his authority. They were unique and never did anything in a pure conventional way, but they were very productive.

I wonder what he'll think of Phoenix, the erne thought.

The two came upon the part of the complex that contained the student finance department. It attracted some of the brighter birds, mostly eagles and eaglets. The population in the department varied from time to time due to the type of birds that are recruited and the interest in financial concepts.

The room had a unique setup. One part of the room had beginning students who were just being introduced to the curriculum. The other had advanced students who had experience and were some self-sufficient. The two very quietly entered the part of the room with the beginning students and heard a great deal of laughter and lively talking.

My wife, ALICE, is responsible for this vocation. Without her, there will be no business, said the bald eagle at the front on the class. She's a tough lady who makes the world go round.

Before the stately figure could continue, a female eaglet uttered, That's right. Women make the world go round. They are smarter, have more natural patience, and look better. The class snickered.

The majestic bird smiled and continued, My daughter, BESSIE, is a chip off the old beak. You guys like her more than ALICE!

The male eaglets said, Yeah!

Watusi was losing patience with the conversation and immediately intervened, What is this talk of wives and daughters in the classroom! Avatar, I want you to remove this instructor immediately.

The class was so quiet that you could hear a pin would drop. Out of nowhere Phoenix, the rather proud and proper bald eagle, started to laugh out loud. Once he composed himself, he stated, Are you serious? Do you have any idea what you are talking about as you disrupt the learning processes of my class?

Watusi flapped her feathers and bellowed, Your family has no place here, and in no method of teaching and—

Phoenix cut him off. Class, will someone explain who ALICE and BESSIE are?

Little Jeanette, a very petite finch, raised her wing in a very meek but assertive way. Mr. Watusi, ALICE represents the five types of accounts in accounting: assets, liabilities, income, capital, and expenses. We use this thing called a pneumonic to help us learn and retain information. Mr. Phoenix says we could learn this way. You see, accounting is an information system that allows officers, directors, business owners, investors, and interested parties to make good financial decisions. That is what we are learning. Watusi was blushing with embarrassment as the little finch continued. "BESSIE are the six ways of getting income. The B is for barter, the E is for extraordinary events, the S is for sales, the next S for services. The S is for sales and exchanges and I for investment income. I forgot to mention BESSIE has three es's."

Phoenix proudly thanked the informed little finch and shot a smile in the direction of Avatar and the large fuming turnkey. After a brief silence, Phoenix asked, Did that clarify the use of my family in the classroom?

Watusi leered at Phoenix and