e　Empire　State　Building　without　a　bungee。　I　tried　looking

up　to　where　my　kite　had　been；　but　it　was　hopeless。　I

was　indeed　a　tree…climbing　weenie。

Then　junior　high　started　and　my　dream　of　a　Juli…free　existence　shattered。　I　had　to　take　the

bus；　and　you…know…who　did；　too。　There　were　about

eight　kids　altogether　at　our　bus　stop；　which　created　a　buffer　zone；　but　it　was　no　fort　zone。

Juli　always　tried　to　stand　beside　me；　or　talk　to　me；　or

in　some　other　way　mortify　me。

And　then　she　started　climbing。　The　girl　is　in　the　seventh　grade；　and　she's　climbing　a　tree　—

way；　way　up　in　a　tree。　And　why　does　she　do　it？　So

she　can　yell　down　at　us　that　the　bus　is　five！　four！　three　blocks　away！　Blow…by…blow　traffic

watch　from　a　tree　—　what　every　kid　in　junior　high　feels　like

hearing　first　thing　in　the　morning。

She　tried　to　get　me　to　e　up　there　with　her；　too。　“Bryce；　e　on！　You　won't　believe　the

colors！　It's　absolutely　magnificent！　Bryce；　you've　got　to

e　up　here！”

Yeah；　I　could　just　hear　it：　“Bryce　and　Juli　sitting　in　a　tree…”　Was　I　ever　going　to　leave　the

second　grade　behind？

One　morning　I　was　specifically　not　looking　up　when　out　of　nowhere　she　swings　down　from　a

branch　and　practically　knocks　me　over。　Heart　attack！

I　dropped　my　backpack　and　wrenched　my　neck；　and　that　did　it。　I　refused　to　wait　under　that

tree　with　that　maniac　monkey　on　the　loose

anymore。　I　started　leaving　the　house　at　the　very　last　minute。　I　made　up　my　own　waiting　spot；

and　when　I'd　see　the　bus　pull　up；　I'd　truck　up　the　hill　and

get　on　board。

No　Juli；　no　problem。

And　that；　my　friend；　took　care　of　the　rest　of　seventh　grade　and　almost　all　of　eighth；　to