Red, a northern oak tree who narrates the tale, begins with a good-natured recitation about certain facts regarding the secret nature of trees: While trees have beautiful skills that humans don’t, they don’t normally talk or tell good jokes. Red later admits that trees have both male and female characteristics; therefore, Red uses “they” to refer to themself. Red mentions that trees don’t normally talk to people, although they do talk “to some folks, the ones [they] know [they] can trust [...] daredevil squirrels [...] hardworking worms [...] flashy butterflies and bashful moths” (1-2). Trees do this because humans have a spotty track record with trees: loving them one day and cutting them down the next. Red also implores humans not to blame their teachers if they didn’t previously know that trees could talk. However, Red invites humans to listen the next time they see an inviting tree—trees have many stories to tell. 

Here, Red formally introduces themself: “Maybe we’ve met? Oak tree near the elementary school? Big, but not too? Sweet shade in the summer, fine color in the fall?” (5). Red is proud to be a northern red oak, and gives their scientific name: Quercus rubra.