Hailey P. Errhalt

Contributing Writer

The ridges of the weather-torn bark chipped away. Pieces scattered all around the stump. Dark green moss cascades down the Heritage River Birch. The grooves in the bark are deep and intricate. The stump is ridged and smooth on the top. In the middle, the stump is sinking in on itself. Jagged, almost papier mache-esque, Chicken of The Woods mushrooms surround the stump. Creeping up the bark as if it was a ninja ready for a sneak attack. Holes in the side, due to the squirrels that surround this area, with their tiny paws and sharp teeth, and were gnawing on it. Teeth marks chip away at the crusty bark. A ledge is carved in the side, like it’s a chair for a small creature to sit and watch as others walk by. A place to kick their feet up and relax. Thick roots surround the stump, spanning for many feet, waiting for the right victim to step on them and break an ankle. Dark, wet brown soil surrounds the stump giving it enough nutrients to remain alive rather than withering away.

As rain started to fall, soaking into the water-parched stump, the bark turned a darker shade of brown. The top of the stump looks as though someone took a wood stain and smeared it across. Rain began to pool in the middle, creating a makeshift pool. The tears of the clouds poured down just as rock dove landed on the edge of the stump. The dove seemed unbothered by the rain. Instead, the plump-bodied bird basked in it. With one fell swoop, the dove hopped into the miniature pool. Its iridescent feathers glistened as the water soaked into them. Eyes drifted away, feeling as though the dove deserved some privacy in this intimate moment.

Once the sun sets, this seemingly simple stump comes to life. The creatures come out to play. It becomes this meeting place for all the woodland creatures that live on this campus. The scavenger squirrels show off their collections of nuts they had gathered hours prior. A chipmunk, using their hind paws, jumps up into the middle of the stump, settling into the sunken hole. Bioluminescent fireflies flicker around it, creating a warm ambiance. This seemingly vacant stump becomes a gathering place for these creatures to hang out in peace. Away from all the hustle and bustle of the chaotic campus they call home. It’s the animal nightclub of East Stroudsburg University. Sitting there, the song “Fireflies” by Owl City comes to mind as the most obvious choice of background music.

There’s something about the way the withered tree stump has become a haven for these animals. The chipped bark being taken by squirrels to aid in the creation of their own shelters. The Chicken of The Woods mushrooms becoming their source of food. Water that collected in the sunken middle becoming not only a source for drinking but for cleaning as well. Thousands of people have walked by this stump in their daily lives; walking to their classes or their cars. They probably just thought it was a simple tree that was cut down, nothing special. None of them have taken the time to really look at this stump, to see what truly goes on within it, to see its potential.

I have had the unfortunate courtesy of living through pain and suffering, feeling as though I was withering away. My body failing me in one way or another. I thought my life was never going to go back to the way it was. But my family and friends became my stump, my village.

They helped me thrive in pain and continued to push me to fight. Because of their support, I had the courage to find the right doctor who listened to me and was able to stop my suffering. My friends and family are the reason I didn’t just waste away. This stump may not be a thriving tree with lush green leaves, but it is a place where other organisms can live and thrive. The ridged mushrooms, the tiny squirrels, the slimy worms, they are all thriving because of this decaying stump. A seemingly simple stump became a lifeline to these creatures. You may just see a worn-down stump in the middle of the grass but what I see is a village of different organisms that can live and thrive with the help of one another.