Double Dave

When he was a tall two trunk stud, Double Dave would laugh at the harsh winds that sometimes blew over the ridge and struck deep into his side of Mary's Woods. Dave would puff up his canopy after the storms passed and gloat about his lack of fear in the face of Ma Nature's awesome power. 

The rest of the trees in the small preserve became tired of his constant bragging. They stopped talking to Dave. Everyone knew trees do not boast or show off. Trees are serious creatures; their lives dedicated to holding ground and providing sanctuary and sustenance to the many creatures and plants that depend on them. Being a blowhard is just wrong. Trees took their place in the world seriously. Double Dave was not a serious tree.

One night in the summer of 2008, a severe thunderstorm crested the ridge and roared into Mary's Woods. The canopy erupted in a panic of wild limb thrashing, as all the trees did their best to bend and not break. As usual, Double Dave laughed at the torrent hitting the preserve so hard. He called the others a bunch of nancies and told them to stand up and take it like a hardwood should.

The storm that hit intially, was just the calm before the real super cell hit 45 seconds later. Double Dave's twin trunk split and now his twin trunks were laying sad and splintered. Double Dave was done. He knew it. Before his lights went out, he declared;

"At least I didn't go out with a whimper!"

Dave never spoke another word. He did however, manage to face his death with well, not a grin, but what some trees contended was angry resignation.

From day that forward, he was known as "Mr. Grumpy Tree".

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I remember that storm. I am just not sure I have the year right. The storm took quite a few of the biggest pines and hardwoods out. Double Dave was not alone. 

I did not notice the face until day before yesterday.

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Just found this tune. Here is "Banty Rooster", by Ashspider? It may be an A-I song. Don't care, I like it.