Incense: Greg

Incense by Greg Manata

“What are you doing?” shouted Greg.

“Just burning some incense,” replied Greg II calmly.

“Are you crazy?! You’re driving me crazy!” screamed Greg.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to incense you by burning incense,” said Greg II.

“Yeah well, next time…oh ha-ha, very funny.”

More Incense by Greg Manata

Trees speak to each other by conjuring winds to rattle their leaves in certain ways. Trees also walk around when no one is looking.

At the tree convention all the trees of the Gugajunga Forest gathered to witness the annual incense burning ritual.

The oldest tree, Bill, spoke. “To all my fellow Gugajungians, this year we have gathered many delicious-smelling things to burn as incense in our ritual. Be merry. As usual, I will remind everyone not to get too close to the incense otherwise you shall die a most painful death and will probably inflict a similar fate upon all the rest of us. Now, let us light the incense.

Bill’s first offspring was given the honor of holding a magnifying glass over the dry dead vegetation that was the incense. The incense was quickly lighted and all the trees scampered a safe distance away from the fire.

After the incense had been burning for some time, one of the younger trees conjured some wind to exclaim how pretty the smell of the incense was. Unfortunately for the young tree, the wind caught the fire and the young tree was singed. The young tree made a bee line for the nearest stream and dove in.

At that moment the two Gregs from the first story were walking in the Gugajunga Forest.
Greg II stopped suddenly. “Whoa.”

Greg, who had been kneeling down to investigate a neat flower spun around. “What is it?”

Greg II didn’t even know what to say. “Umm…well, a burning tree just ran and dove straight into that creek. I guess?” He wasn’t sure he believed his own eyes.

Greg peered down into the creek. Sure enough there was a tree down there and a bit of steam rising from the water. “Well, I guess I was right about trees then, wasn’t I? I always told you there was more to them than meets the eye.”

“Yeah well, who would have thunk it? Hey, do you smell incense?”