PHOTO PROMPT © Liz Young
Jem and Peet chugged along the Everglades trail, their first trip since lockdown ended.
“Peet, it’s nice to be out of the house, but Florida in July?”
“Jem, I wanted to see a mangrove tree,” said Peet, checking off the box on his tree list.
“I’m geeked we leave for California tomorrow to see bristlecone pines – the oldest living things on earth! At least it’s a dry heat.”
Jem and Peet didn’t know that an even older life form, whose mouth mimicked mangrove trees, would draw them in for a taste. They’d never see California.
[99 words]
The moment I saw this image it reminded me of a giant monster’s mouth. Those two are probably still being digested!
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the encouraging host of Friday Fictioneers.
Tao Talk 
An older life form than trees? Yikes!
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Thanks, Neil!
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i’d been to belize and those mangrove trees really scared the hell out of me. they seemed to be from out of this world. :)
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Now you know… you narrowly escaped death! ;)
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Ouch.. beware the tree with an appetite.
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The 12-year-old in me said, “Fort. That’s a fort.” I would run in there and be devoured.
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LMAO Do you ever get the feeling that these images are like Rorshach blots and we are in the middle of a giant experiment? I’m sure there’s a big red “DANGER” stamped on my folder.
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If there is a folder, I hope there’s a “DANGER” stamped on mine. 🤣
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Hey we can be near each other in the drawer :)
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That’s good. Those drawers can be dark and scary.
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Watch out for those man-eating trees! Too late for these two though. 😉
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The mystery to how big and healthy they are has been solved ;)
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Carnivorous trees are never fun to meet up with. They’re bigger and can entice people in, though we do have the advantage of speed…
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When you have the kind with quick-sprouting roots that can trip like someone else wrote about….
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Yeah, I guess there are some you just need to stay far, far away from…
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Surviving lockdown only for this to happen to them! That’s unfortunate! :-)
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I know!
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Eek! I thought the trees were creepy already, but now they’re downright terrifying! A monster’s mouth. That’s so good!
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Thanks, Jenne!
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It does looks like a giant mouth. Good story Li
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Thanks, Sadje!
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You’re welcome Li
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Cool story, Lisa. That image is just unbelievable. It does look like some alien creature!
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Thank you, Christian! :)
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Dear Lisa,
The humidity in Florida is enough to eat one alive…but I have this niggling feeling that’s the least of their worries. ;) Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, I share your feeling on this. Glad you like story, thank you. :)
Shalom,
Lisa
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Trees need quite a lot of nutrients, especially mangrove. Even the name is slightly eerie.
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Ha! Never even thought about that! Really makes you wonder….
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Too bad they didn’t go see the bristlecones first. They don’t eat people :)
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LOL Yes!
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I can just imagine it emitting a thunderous burp after eating them! Nice one Lisa.
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haha! :)
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Jem and Peet are no more…see I told you those trees had an evil side!
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Max, you planted the seed to this story! I remember writing it right after I read your comments. Thanks Muse!
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Well we helped each other out today!
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Oh right, I’ll be right over to read!
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Lol no hurry you know that!
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You did your post up right. I love the image you chose at the top. Very nice!
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Thanks Lisa
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You’re welcome.
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Oooo, Everglades. Got to look out. This reminds me of visiting friends down there and being told that the gators hardly ever attack people BUT best not to go walking far alone. Apparently it is like that out there sometimes. You never know…. Great story that could almost be true. Maybe IS true….
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:) Thanks, Anne. I’ve been to the Everglades a few times and your friends are right. The gators are everywhere and I wouldn’t want to turn my back on one.
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Straight from lockdown to a monster’s dinner. It’s not their year :-(
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A poor old tree that is having a torrid time recycling humanity’s curious, 😉
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LOL :)
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Ah, I didn’t see that one coming! Nice work.
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Thank you.
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There is certainly something very sinister about that tree! Surviving lockdown only to be digested by a nasty tree…bummer. Entertaining story!
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Thanks, Brenda. I had those poor people going every which way.
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It is scary enough in the Everglades without trees eating people. Oh my!
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Yes, the gators nibbling at your ankles are another hazard. Maybe the gators and the tree flipped a coin and the tree won these two…
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geeze Lisa this rather puts a real dampner on my tree hugging … fear of being munched on :(
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Only by this ET masquerading as a tree!
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ah then I can keep hugging safely :)
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:)
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This tree must be related to the Venus Fy Trap, only needs humans to survive. A fun, but shocking idea.
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It’s only pretending to be a tree, but I agree that it is shocking to think of a carnivorous “tree” that eats humans.
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My beautiful tree seems to have frightened a good number this week!
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If only it were a tree….. ;)
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That’s always been quite a major problem with old life forms that are so very good at camouflage~
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Now that you mention it, it does look like an evil face with gaping mouth!
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Ooooooooo spooky and very cool!
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Thanks, Laurie!
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Nooo!!
See ya later alligator…..
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Creepy story, I like the ominous twist at the end. The photo is spooky, makes me think of gaping mouths and strings of saliva.
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Thanks, WWM, I see that too!
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A voracious tree indeed! Good story.
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Thank you, Neel.
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It’s a nice sight but a little scary if you pay attention
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Exactly!
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Lol. That monster will be full for a while after eating both of them!
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I hope so, unless it has a fast metabolism :)
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