Bea wanted to ask her weeping friend questions, her usual "whys, what if's and how could this be?" But she, fortunately, remembered the manners her mom had taught her. Then she remembered that she could do her talk to the maker of willow trees exercise to help her friend.

As Bea moved a little to the side to do this, she noticed scars in Willow's bark. Some were very old and had healed over. And some looked fresh. It didn't look like beaver tooth marks. She'd seen plenty of Timothy's beautiful carved wood. She had to ask Willow. She promised herself, it would be just one little question as she was vigorously doing her brain exercise. She asked Willow what had made those deep blunt marks in her tender bark. Willow told her that angry sticks held by the sad children had cut deep into her bark.

Willow had to think of the sticks, as being angry, because she could not handle believing any child would want to hurt her. She felt, the degree of ugliness of those scars, represented the degree of the ugliness of the child's life. But she didn't mind any of their attacks of rage, loss, and sense of desolation. If it helped them to feel better, not so alone and able to work out some of their problems.

Bea was surprised and at the same time thrilled, that Willow must also know about the maker, the maker of trees, and the maker of children. Now, Bea knew things would be okay. She told Willow that she understood about the fears and how it felt like fifty bees were flying around inside her. She wondered if Willow felt like fifty termites were chewing in circles inside her. But of course, she didn't ask.

Willow said she worried that she hadn't helped the children enough. She didn't feel she gave them enough hope. Bea did a little dance inside her brain to hear that Willow actually worried too. She knew Willow also understood that all too familiar sinking feeling, of trying to find hope.

Bea once again knew she needed to do her brain exercise to help her friend feel better. Here, Willow had been helping so many children forever and now she needed help to find her own hope again. She asked the maker of hope what to say. The maker told her to tell Willow that she held the memory for these children in her scars, in the music she played through her grace-filled leaves. That she should tell Willow as she weeps her deep heart song, she should also remember to stand tall because it is a wonderful thing she does.

Bea danced on her way back home as she heard the music the maker spoke of. She felt a very warm, happy feeling and could not help but smile and thank the maker. As she continued her strolling exercise, she made sure she remembered the special markings on this path. She had learned so much from her new friend, Willow, and hoped to return to learn more.