The Little Willow

The Little Willow' is a short story by Frances Towers, collected in the book `Tea with Mr. Rochester'. He was born in 1885 in England and died in 1948 at the age of 63. Although he did not enjoy a very illustrious and renowned career this story is one of his noteworthy works. The little willow is a story of untold, undisclosed and thereby unfulfilled love that Lisby Avery, the main character of the story, had for Simon Byrne, a soldier. The story is set in the era of World War II. The story begins with the arrival of Simon Byrne who has come from South Africa recently and is totally unacquainted and oblivious of anyone and anything akin to London. He is brought by Charlottes friend, Stephen Elyot, to the Averys house which is the abode of three sisters: Lisby, Charlotte and Brenda. The drawing room has its odds and ends with exquisite rugs and a piano on one end but disheveled and dusty stacks of book on the other. Overall the dcor is admirable. Lisby, the central character, may have been a sibling of Charlotte and Brenda but there was a staggering contrast between her and her sisters. Brenda and Charlotte were, as writer describes, Charmers. Articulate, eloquent, gregarious and flamboyant, Charlotte: a flawless designer, Brenda: an impeccable pianist; those were the hallmarks of the sisters. Lisby in contrast was introvert, shy and reclusive lacking the glitz and glamour that embellished and festooned her sisters. On the evening of Simons arrival Brenda played piano with such immaculate finesse that everyone was enamored and spellbound, including Simon. That night, Simon got hold of Lisbys willow that was carved of Jade and crystal and had an eccentric antiquity poised with a mesmerizing appeal. Simon told Lisby that he used to dream of willows and water when he was lost and parched with thirst and hunger in the wars. Lisby finally had someone who was on the same page as her. Not just the willow, Lisby and Simon were birds of the same flock. They judged a painting not by its pomp and splendor, or its price tag but by the hidden message in it. It was almost as if they found soul even in inanimate objects. It was an eerie synchronization, a spiritual synergy, an uncanny telepathic connection. Lisby had to fall for Simon! Falling in love was one thing but expression of love was not something Lisby could have been good at. She was too shy to confess until the day of Simons departure came. Lisby had much to say but couldnt muster enough courage. So, she presented Simon with the willow, the most endeared possession of hers, on his farewell. Also, there was a muted and muffled request to come back soon but not a blatant and unequivocal assertion of her love for Simon.

Lisby waited and craved for simon to write. She sorted the mail every day to no avail until Charlotte broke the news that fell like a bombshell on Lisby. Richard Harkness and Simon were in the same offlag (Camp) and were prison mates. Richard made it alive and returned to marry Charlotte. Simon wasnt so lucky! Lisbys heart was shattered to smithereens. She was torn from inside out! After the war Charlotte got married to Richard Harkness and Brenda got engaged to Gerald. A friend of Richard Harkness, Captain Oliver too came on their wedding. He was a doctor by profession and had been in the same camp where Simon was imprisoned. He had Simons message for a girl unknown to her as Simon never uttered a name. He told Lisby that he wanted to confide something in her because she seemed the most sensible of the three. He told her about Simons imprisonment and the eventually fatal wound that vanquished him. Captain Oliver told Lisby that Simon once stated that his beloved had given him a Little Willow Tree, the only souvenir of their love, that was shattered when the shell got him. Lisby, although bereaved and inconsolable yet found an unimaginable euphoria deep down her heart because her love might have been untold but wasnt in vain. It had become eternal and perpetual. The Little Willow creates an aura that embodies desire and longing, tragedy and misfortune, and an eventual rapture of euphoria and accomplishment. The story epitomizes the fact that true love may be unfulfilled but undying for sure!