Dad stood on the doorstep. “Come in, love. You’ll catch your death.”

“You know I always decorate the linden outside at Christmas. It cheers up the whole street.” Ma bound the trunk with tinsel.

They cut down the tree the year after Ma died.

Dad said the roots had gone.

R. J. Kinnarney is a tutor and author of children’s novel, Abigail Aces Acting. R. J.’s short story, The Blue Bowl, was runner-up in the Daunt Books short story competition. She won the Southam Book Festival 100 word story competition and has been published in 100 Words of Solitude, The Write In, Funny Pearls. She is currently working on a novel, which looks at attitudes to war, together with changing methods and speed of communication. See more at rjkinnarney.com and follow R.J. on Twitter at @rjkinnarney