Free The Order of the Trees by Katy Farber

said Sara Montgomery, “how can breaking you out of the hospital help you! What were you thinking!”
    Phillip’s dad said, “Get your stuff. We are leaving. You’ve done enough damage here.”
    Cedar took her mom’s hands. Tipped up her chin.
    â€œMom, look at me. Look at my face.”
    Cedar’s mom turned to look at her daughter.
    â€œSee me. See my eyes. You know it is true.”
    Tears sprouted in Sara Montgomery’s eyes as she looked deep into the fiery, deer-like eyes of her wild tree daughter. She knew in that moment the way you know things. The way you feel love like a blanket.
    â€œKevin. Look at Cedar. She is bright. She is well.”
    â€œBut how can that be?” Cedar’s dad marveled.
    â€œBecause she is home. Because her fate is connected to this tree.” At this, Cedar’s parents paused, eyes locked on Cedar.
    Phillip’s dad interrupted the silence. “I have no idea what you all are talking about, but I have to get to work, and this boy here is grounded for life, so if you don’t mind, he’s coming with me.”
    â€œDad, I can’t leave. We’ve made it this far. Cedar’s mom is right.”
    â€œUm, excuse me,” Dan Bloom called.
    â€œYoung man, you are coming with me.” Phillip’s dad reached and caught Phillip’s arm.
    â€œLet go! I was only trying to help!”
    â€œYou’d better turn around, folks,” Dan said, camera raised and recording.
    Behind the group, dozens of people were coming forward, many holding signs, calling into the forest.
    â€œSave the Worcester Woods! Save Cedar!”
    â€œSave the Worcester Woods! Save Cedar!”
    They kept coming. Piles of kids holding hand-lettered signs. Parents holding their kids’ hands. It seemed that Chester School had emptied and appeared right on the trail, right in the woods before them.
    The adults were speechless, and Cedar broke into a wide smile. The morning light bathed the dozens of families that emerged around Stella. Cedar and Phillip stepped around the stunned adults and started greeting classmates, teachers, parents, friends, and many people they didn’t know.
    Cedar looked around, light as air, in disbelief. Phillip ran his hands through his hair, whispered, “Unbelievable.”
    They didn’t even notice the TV news cameras.

Chapter 20
    The group kept chanting, and then stopped to listen to Phillip and Cedar.
    â€œI cannot believe you all came,” Phillip called out, choking on the words, “We really appreciate you.”
    As he spoke, Mr. Bausch showed up behind the group, followed by several adults in nice clothes.
    â€œâ€¦ You must have some belief in us, in Cedar, and in the magic of these woods to get up so early and come out here,” Phillip called.
    Cedar looked up and out on the crowd. She said, “We know little about how our environment is tied to us all. Maybe not as strongly as I am to this place, but each one of us is intricately tied to our water, our land, our home. By helping protect this forest, you protect not only my home, but yours. Our forests clean our air, they take our anxiety away, they teach us about nature and resilience, about renewaland strength. All of which I have needed in recent days, and we will all need often in our lives.”
    The group encircled Stella, listening, building in numbers. More people trickled in, gathering around the towering tree.
    â€œThis is only the beginning. We will need to fight to make sure this forest is not cut down, for me but also for you, and we all need to work together to protect forests and habitats everywhere.”
    As she spoke Cedar was electric. The crowd listened raptly as her fearless eyes stared out at them. Her strength seemed to be shooting out, reaching like branches into their eyes and hearts and minds.

Chapter 21
    As she spoke, Dan pulled on Phillip’s arm.
    â€œDude, you’d better look at