So we headed down and found a parking spot in a garage on 18th, it was quite the walk getting to Confluence Park from there. With how many people had gathered though, I was surprised we found something that close. And there were a lot of people there, it seems some people have some very strong opinions about whether to leave the tree or to cut it down and reopen the intersection.
When we got there, there were construction crews all around who were mad that the tree was in the way of them getting to and from their jobs. The protesters were there as expected. They were surrounding the tree and taking abuse from pretty much everyone else and preventing a city crew from cutting down the tree and removing it. Surrounding it all were people from all walks of life. Some watched the drama as it unfolded, others seemed to be trying to feed the fire, most were like Max and I, just there to see the tree.
The tree was magnificent. It had a quality about it that felt as though it had seen the coming and going of many ages. A solidness that said ours was but another age and that it too would pass and the tree would remain to see more. The gnarled visage of overcoming any and all opposition. The kind of tree that invites kids to climb it. I think many of us there, even those who wanted to see it cut down, felt that desire to climb its boughs. Despite the shouting, the protests, and the anger, there was a peace above us all in the canopy of that tree.
While we were there, I spotted Hal. He was shadowing some well dressed white guy who was standing so straight he had to have had rebar shoved up his backside. I could tell instantly that he was the arrogant mentoring Hal's new career, Tim. All my newfound confidence from the other day melted away seeing him. Hal hasn't just been trying to get me to dinner, he was telling the truth, and everything he's been saying was just made real in a way that the news articles couldn't have done alone.
I made sure to put the crowd between us. Max didn't seem to notice, though she did look back the way I was watching. If she saw Hal, she didn't say anything.
We didn't stay long after that, I was all too happy to go. But Max said she wanted to come back another time. She was hopeful that she'd be able to approach the tree, wanting to see how it poked through the asphalt of the street. On the way back, she asked me what I had seen. I wasn't sure how to answer her, knowing she'd be thrilled that there was a conspiracy afoot, and disappointed that I hadn't already told her. I told her that I wasn't sure, but that something had bothered me and I didn't feel safe staying there. She seemed to accept that.
I've finished my chores now, which have gone later than I normally would like. But that's the way it goes I guess. I'll be visiting Candace tomorrow, I need to tell her what I saw today, that Hal's conspiracy is real.
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