Cirios are known throughout the plant world to be the friendliest of all. Immobile from time and the sun, they are caught waving at anyone within sight. Usually headless, they reach with their outstretched arms to beckon any onlooker over to them. Some of the more spiritual Cirios extend their two or three arms high to the clouds. They believe that if they live their life freely and lovingly then one day they will be transformed into a cloud -- the most liberated of all things.
But Boojum was not happy. He knew it was his destiny to stay in his dry lava bed in the hot sunny country the humans called the Baja. However Boojum was impatient.
Boojum's mother and a few neighbors were pretending to be at a cocktail party. She was laughing with hands held high and her neighbor leaned back in hysterics, hands on her hips. Boojum interrupted their gaiety,
"I cannot wait any longer, Mother. I have decided to uproot myself and journey beyond the slopes of old man Volcano and around toward the cliffs of the Cortez coast."
His mother replied, "If you think you must do so, you have my blessing. But be aware that it will take you several centuries. Be aware that you will become not a Cirio, and be aware that you still may not be free." And with those last words resounding through every root and spine, Boojum began to wander east.
It took him six centuries to reach the coast. The swift winds which swept him stunted his growth over the years. The rainfall -- one storm every year -- was too wet for him. The water engorged his trunk and made him stout. But he was happy perched beside a boulder near a coyote den with a magnificent view of the sea.
One day a wild burro approached Boojum and began to nibble on some of his leaves. "Hello Burro. My name is Boojum and I am a Cirio tree."
Guffawing in laughter, the wise burro explained, "You are not a Cirio. It is quite obvious that you are an Elephant Trunk tree. Cirios live centuries west of here in the arid volcanic area of the Baja."
Just then another Elephant Trunk tree finally spoke up, “Yes, Boojum, you are one of us. Just look at you. We could be twins."
Boojum looked outside of himself for a few moments. He then looked inside of himself. He could not disagree. Although be remembers not changing, he was definately an Elephant Trunk tree.
Night fell. The burro strayed away and his neighboring tree slumbered. He looked up to the night lights and envisioned his mother's voice. "I became not a Cirio." Boojum thought. "But I am still not a free cloud."
Before Boojum could even think another thought, the sea began to rumble. A waterspout spiraled upward and sucked in all of the energy of the sky. A whip of lightning cracked the torrent into a full blown tropical storm. The winds were so powerful that Boojum could barely hang onto the earth. Boojum became excited and knew what to do. He closed his eyes and let go. An enormous cloud reached out and pulled him up to the sky.
Boojum was free. He flew over his mother's cocktail party and waved. Still frozen in time, she proudly winked and smiled her approval. Boojum flew off to explore the rest of the universe.