The Ribbon Forest

The Ribbon Forest Yavuz DEMİRKIRAN

Deep in the heart of the Ribbon Forest, the trees do not grow leaves. Instead, they grow long, glossy ribbons in every color you can imagine. Red, blue, yellow, and pink ribbons shimmer and rustle softly in the breeze. The trees have smooth pale bark and twisting branches, and small knots that look like sleepy eyes. It is the most beautiful forest in the world. 1

Faye is the young guardian of the Ribbon Forest. She is about ten years old, with warm light-brown skin, freckles across her nose, and large hazel-green eyes. Her wavy chestnut hair is tied back with a ribbon, and a single rainbow ribbon is braided into it. She wears a simple forest-green tunic dress and brown boots, and carries a woven satchel. Faye loves every tree. 2

Every morning, Faye walks the forest paths with her best friend Pip. Pip is a tiny songbird with sky-blue feathers, a cream belly, and a bright pink ribbon tied around his neck. He chirps happily as he flutters from branch to branch. Together, they check each tree, touching the ribbons gently. The trees rustle back as if to say, “Good morning, Faye. Good morning, Pip.” 3

One sunny day, visitors come to the Ribbon Forest. They gasp at the colorful trees and take pictures. But some visitors do not just look. A tall woman named Mrs. Thorne, wearing a long plum coat and a wide-brimmed grey hat, carries a large woven basket. “These ribbons would look lovely at home,” she says, and she begins to fill her basket. Other visitors do the same. 4

Pip chirps a warning, fluttering around Faye’s head. Faye hurries to the visitors and says, “Please, the ribbons are the trees’ leaves. They need them to stay healthy.” But the visitors are too busy to listen. They take ribbons by the handful, and the trees begin to look bare. Faye’s heart feels heavy as she watches the colors disappear. 5

Each day, more visitors come, and each day, more ribbons are taken. The trees’ sleepy knot eyes seem to droop. Their branches look thin and sad. Faye walks among them, touching the pale bark. “Don’t worry,” she whispers. “I will find a way to help you.” Pip sits on her shoulder, chirping softly. The forest feels quiet and empty without its ribbons. 6

Faye thinks and thinks. She remembers how much the visitors loved the colorful ribbons. “They just want to enjoy the beauty,” she says to Pip. “But they don’t know how to do it gently.” Pip tilts his head. Suddenly, Faye’s eyes light up. “I have an idea! We can invite everyone to a festival—a celebration of the Ribbon Forest!” 7

Faye and Pip work all day. They make little invitations from fallen leaves and write on them with berry juice. “Come to the Ribbon Festival!” they say. “See the trees, sing and dance, and admire the ribbons gently.” Pip flies through the forest, dropping invitations on paths and doorsteps. Faye hangs lanterns made of paper and ribbons that have fallen naturally. The forest begins to sparkle. 8

On the day of the festival, visitors arrive. Mrs. Thorne is there too, her basket empty this time. Faye greets everyone with a warm smile. “Welcome to the Ribbon Forest!” she says. “Today we celebrate the trees. We can look, but we must not take. The ribbons belong here.” She leads them on a gentle walk, showing how the ribbons sway and shine. 9

There are games and songs. Children dance with ribbons that have fallen to the ground. Pip chirps a happy tune, and everyone claps. Faye teaches the visitors how to make ribbon crowns from fallen ribbons. Mrs. Thorne tries one on and laughs. “I didn’t know the forest could be so much fun,” she says. “I’m sorry I took so many ribbons before.” 10

As the sun sets, something magical happens. The trees begin to grow new ribbons right before everyone’s eyes. Bright red, blue, yellow, and pink ribbons unfurl from the branches. The trees’ sleepy knot eyes seem to smile. The visitors cheer. Faye’s heart fills with joy. “Look!” she cries. “The forest is thanking us for being kind.” 11

Mrs. Thorne steps forward. “I will never take ribbons again,” she says. “Instead, I will tell everyone to admire them gently.” The other visitors nod. They promise to protect the Ribbon Forest and to come back for the next festival. Faye gives Mrs. Thorne a small ribbon as a gift—one that had fallen naturally. Mrs. Thorne ties it around her hat. 12

From that day on, the Ribbon Forest stays colorful and safe. Visitors come to admire the trees, but they leave the ribbons where they belong. Faye and Pip continue their daily walks, and the trees rustle happily. Faye knows that kindness and clever ideas can solve even the biggest problems. The forest is a peaceful, beautiful place once more. 13

The festival becomes a yearly tradition. Each spring, visitors return to celebrate the Ribbon Forest. They sing, dance, and make crafts from fallen ribbons. Mrs. Thorne becomes a friend of the forest and helps teach others to be gentle. Faye’s rainbow hair ribbon flutters in the breeze as she welcomes everyone with a smile. The trees’ ribbons shimmer brightly, and Pip chirps with joy. 14

Faye sits under a tall ribbon tree, watching the happy crowd. She thinks about how the forest almost lost its beauty. “We must always protect the things we love,” she says to Pip. Pip nuzzles her cheek. The trees sway gently, their ribbons rustling like soft music.