Unsuspecting Friends

Unsuspecting Friends is the story of a Sweet Gum tree that was taken to a lumber mill in Grayling, Michigan, when he was just 13. After being sawed and turned into planks he was transformed into a picnic table, ending up at Lake Windjammer “down in Ohio”. For over 30 year,s Sweet Gum encountered people of all ages as they came to picnic and play, often sitting on him and sometimes carving their initials in him. Now, his time has come. Redwood stain can no longer preserve him, but before he goes, old Gum needs to share his memories and has invited us to listen in as he reminisces about his Unsuspecting Friends.

Written for a general audience, this fascinating narrative is capturing the hearts of children and adults alike and is being compared to the critically acclaimed Traveller, in which General Robert E. Lee’s horse describes the Civil War from an animal’s perspective.

©2010 Michael Drew Shaw (P)2010 Michael Drew Shaw