Olivia, Emma and Lois were siblings, with Olivia as the eldest, followed by Emma and then Lois, their brother. They resided in a house near a forest and lived with their mother after losing their father in a plane crash. Olivia had a routine of jogging in the forest early in the morning, but one day, she made an unexpected discovery.

While jogging, Olivia stumbled upon a tree house hidden beneath layers of ivy, fungi and dirt. Intrigued, she decided to clean and explore it, taking advantage of the solitude. After an hour of cleaning, she was amazed by the tree house’s true beauty, as it was constructed from real wood with a polished appearance.

A note on a table caught Olivia’s attention. The note was addressed to Olivia, and it read,

*“Dear children,
This tree house before you is a creation of my youth, a place that holds a treasure of memories for me. I spent countless hours playing within these tree house walls, affectionately naming it ‘Treetop.’ When you all — Olivia, Emma and Lois — came into this world, my dear, I made a heartfelt decision to dedicate this tree house to all of you. That’s why I left this note behind, with the belief that someday one of you would stumble upon it.

Inside, you’ll also find some cherished photographs capturing moments of my friends and me during our youthful escapades in Treetop. And there is also something that your mother will tell you one day.

Remember this is the place of love and creativity, let your bonds strengthen and all of you prosper.
With love,
Your Dad”*

Overwhelmed with emotion, Olivia decided to make the tree house her own sanctuary for a couple of days before telling her siblings.

The next morning, Olivia returned to the tree house with blankets, sheets, pillows, a small table and her personal belongings. She planned to spend the entire day there and then return home at dusk. It was now comfortable, and she even took a short nap.

The next day, Olivia found some pictures in the tree house, capturing fond moments of her father and his friends. She couldn’t help but cry on seeing them. Her family had been curious about her prolonged absence, and when she returned home, her mother inquired about her whereabouts.

“Where have you been all day?” mum asked.

Olivia proceeded to share the entire story of her discovery of the Treetop tree house.

Her mother smiled and admitted, “I’ve been aware of that place, but I thought it best for you to stumble upon it on your own.” She paused, her eyes twinkling with a secret she had kept hidden for years, and she continued, “Your father built the tree house especially for all of you and wanted all of you to spend your time creatively there. But, he also left a hidden surprise for each of you in it.”

Curiosity sparked in the siblings’ eyes, but they had to wait as their mother said that she will accompany them there tomorrow. Eager to go there, both Emma and Lois were excited while Olivia remained composed and enjoyed seeing the excitement in her siblings.

The next day, their mother led them to a corner of the tree house. There, hidden beneath a loose floorboard, were three small, intricately crafted boxes. Each box bore the initials of one of the siblings.

As they opened their respective boxes, they found personalised treasures. Olivia discovered a small leather-bound journal with the inscription, “Capture your dreams, one page at a time.”

Emma uncovered a delicate necklace with a charm shaped like a quill, symbolising her love for writing. While Lois, the youngest, found a set of vibrant watercolour paints with a note that read, “Let your imagination flow like colours on a canvas.”

Their mother explained, “Your father wanted you to have these gifts to inspire and encourage your unique talents. He believed in the power of creativity and wanted Treetop to be a place where each of you could nurture your passions.”

From that day onwards, the siblings not only enjoyed the tree house but also started their creative journeys, guided by the thoughtful gifts from their father. The tree house became a haven not just for shared adventures, but also a place where each of them could explore and express their creativity, inspired by the love and foresight of their father.

Published in Dawn, Young World, January 13th, 2024