S ABIGAIL OGLE SAT DOWN
WITH THIS TEACHER AND AUTHOR.
ABIGAIL WE NEED TO REMEMBER
: THESE CHILDREN NEED TO KNOW
SO I STARTED THINKING I JU
KIND OF PLANTED AN IDEA IN THE
BACK OF MY HEAD THAT JUST KIND
OF SAT THERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE
AND JUST GREW AND GREW.
ABIGAIL: THE ROOTS OF THIS IDEA
FOR A CHILDREN'S BOOK TOOK HOLD
OF 4TH GRADE TEACHER GAYE
SANDERS.
>> SUDDENLY I JUST KNEW THE BOOK
NEEDED TO BE WRITTEN AND I
NEEDED TO DO IT BUT, AS SH
STARTED WRITING, MRS. SANDERS
REALIZED A PROBLEM.
WHO WAS GOING TO BE THE MAIN
CHARACTE
SHE NEEDED SOMEONE TO TELL THE
STORY OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY
BOMBING AND TO TELL THE STORY OF
THE SURVIVOR TREE.
IT QUICKLY DAWNED ON HER THE
MAIN CHARACTER HAD BEEN STANDING
OVER HER THE WHOLE TIME.
THE BOOK IS WRITTEN FROM THE
SURVIVOR TREE'S PERSPECTIVE.
>> ONE BEAUTIFUL MORNING IN
APRIL, AS THE SUN SHONE
BRILLIANTLY OVER THE OPEN SKY, I
FELT EXCITEMENT KNOWING THE
CHILDREN WOULD SOON BE OUT TO
PLAY AROUND MY TRUNK BUT AT 9:02
THE GROUND BENEATH MY ROOTS
SHOOK.
THE BUILDING EXPLODED.
I HEARD SCREAM
DEBRIS FROM THE BUILDING HUNG
TANGLED FROM MY BRANCHES.
THE WEIGHT PULLED AT MY LIMB
AND TORE THE LEAVES THAT WERE
LEFT
THEN IT TALKS ABOUT THEM
BUILDING THE WALLS AND THE
REFLECTING POOL.
AND ON THE FAR SIDE FROM WHERE I
STOOD THERE WERE CHAIRS.
168 BEAUTIFUL CHAIRS.
ONE IS FOR THE LADY WHO NO
LONGER SITS IN MY SHADE.
SOME WERE SMALLER THAN THE
OTHERS THOSE ARE FOR T
CHILDREN WHO NO LONGER PLAY
AROUND MY TRUNK.
I HAVE SEEN OUR VERY WORST
MOMENT.
