re　tree　was　God's　gift　to　our　little　corner　of　the　universe。

Back　in　the　third　and　fourth　grades　she　used　to　clown　around　with　her　brothers　in　the

branches　or　peel　big　chunks　of　bark　off　so　they　could　slide

down　the　crook　in　its　trunk。　It　seemed　like　they　were　playing　in　it　whenever　my　mom　took　us

somewhere　in　the　car。　Juli'd　be　swinging　from　the

branches；　ready　to　fall　and　break　every　bone　in　her　body；　while　we　were　waiting　at　the

stoplight；　and　my　mom　would　shake　her　head　and　say；　“Don't

you　ever　climb　that　tree　like　that；　do　you　hear　me；　Bryce？　I　never　want　to　see　you　doing　that！

You　either；　Lyta。　That　is　much　too　dangerous。”

My　sister　would　roll　her　eyes　and　say；　“As　if；”　while　I'd　slump　beneath　the　window　and　pray

for　the　light　to　change　before　Juli　squealed　my　name

for　the　world　to　hear。

I　did　try　to　climb　it　once　in　the　fifth　grade。　It　was　the　day　after　Juli　had　rescued　my　kite　from

its　mutant　toy…eating　foliage。　She　climbed　miles　up　to

get　my　kite；　and　when　she　came　down；　she　was　actually　very　cool　about　it。　She　didn't　hold

my　kite　hostage　and　stick　her　lips　out　like　I　was　afraid

she　might。　She　just　handed　it　over　and　then　backed　away。

………　Page　12………

I　was　relieved；　but　I　also　felt　like　a　weenie。　When　I'd　seen　where　my　kite　was　trapped；　I　was

sure　it　was　a　goner。　Not　Juli。　She　scrambled　up　and

got　it　down　in　no　time。　Man；　it　was　embarrassing。

So　I　made　a　mental　picture　of　how　high　she'd　climbed；　and　the　next　day　I　set　off　to　outdo　her

by　at　least　two　branches。　I　made　it　past　the　crook；　up

a　few　limbs；　and　then　—　just　to　see　how　I　was　doing　—　I　looked　down。

Mis…take！　It　felt　like　I　was　on　top　of　th