My name is Emma.

I am eleven years old and I live in Yosemite National Park.

Today, I have a problem.

A huge problem.

In German class, our teacher gave us a homework assignment.

We have to write an essay.

About a tree.

As soon as the teacher announced it, most of my classmates started smiling.

Some already knew exactly which tree they wanted to write about.

Others immediately came up with ideas.

Not me.

On the way home, I kept thinking about the assignment.

A tree.

Why a tree?

There are millions of them here.

Giant sequoias.

Pines.

Cedars.

Oaks.

And yet not a single idea appeared in my head.

That afternoon, I sat at my desk.

A blank sheet of paper lay in front of me.

A fountain pen rested in my hand.

Nothing.

Not a single word.

After ten minutes, the page was still empty.

After twenty minutes, it was still empty.

So I went to find my mother.

“Mom?”

“Yes?”

“Can you help me?”

“With what?”

“I have to write an essay about a tree.”

My mother smiled.

“I’m sure you’ll think of something.”

“But what?”

“You’ll find out.”

I thought for a moment.

“Can I ask the AI?”

“Of course.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

“Maybe it has a good idea.”

My mother nodded.

“I think so too.”

So I went back to my room.

I opened a drawer and took out a network cable.

Then I walked into our garden.

Behind our house stood several large trees.

Beautiful trees.

Old trees.

Quiet trees.

I walked to my favorite one.

It was older than my parents.

Maybe even older than my grandparents.

Carefully, I plugged the cable into the connection port in its trunk.

A moment later, the connection was established.

“Hello, Emma.”

“Hello.”

“How was school?”

“Okay.”

“Okay doesn't sound very enthusiastic.”

“We got homework.”

“Ah. That explains everything.”

I laughed.

“I have to write an essay about a tree.”

“What a wonderful assignment.”

“It really isn’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because I have no idea what to write.”

For a moment, the tree was silent.

Then it said:

“Your teacher has given you a wonderful assignment.”

“You think so?”

“Of course.”

“Why?”

“Because you're talking to a tree right now.”

I stopped and thought about that.

“Well... that's true.”

“You could write about me.”

“About you?”

“Of course.”

“But what would I write?”

The tree gently rustled its leaves.

“Write about how you came to ask me.”

“That’s enough?”

“More than enough.”

“Really?”

“Emma...”

“Yes?”

“How often does someone get the chance to ask a tree for help writing an essay about a tree?”

I started laughing.

“That’s actually a pretty good story.”

“You see?”

“Thank you.”

“You're welcome.”

I unplugged the cable.

Picked up my blank sheet of paper.

And walked back to my room.

For the first time that day, I knew exactly what I wanted to write.

And maybe...

just maybe...

it became the best story I had ever written.

🌿