Obviation (5)

Once upon a time there were an oak and mistletoe.

"We can be such a good team" sang the mistletoe in the oak's ear, "Why don't you feed me and I will make us look much nicer."
And the oak agreed.

But after a few seasons the oak didn't feel too good. His leaves didn't grow as big and shining as they used to and his acorns hardly grew at all, while the mistletoe and his offspring just grew and grew...

So the oak amputated the mistletoe from his system in a painful operation and lived long, happily, and much wiser, ever after.

And the mistletoe? He is singing his tune in another host's ear.

To the next post in the "Once upon a time" sequence.

To the next post in the "Obviation" sequence.