• "Careful, there's a weak limb, there", Elouise warned, lifting herself onto a sturdy branch ten feet off the ground, and offered her hand for Ethan to climb up. He grasped it and heaved himself onto a branch beside her. He took a long breath for a second and then reclined on the branch, resting his head on his hands and crossing his feet.
    "Whew", Elouise gasped and wiped the sweat from her brow, laughing. Ethans chest rose up and down slowly, their breathing heavy.
    "That was a climb", he said, rising into a sitting position.
    "Yeah, it was, huh", she said in between breaths. Ethan pulled his light brown hair from his eyes, but it blew back in his face immediately afterwards and Elouise giggled. He smlied back at his friend.
    It was a warm autumn day. The trees were turning vivid shades of red and yellow and squirrels ran up trunks, anxiously trying to collect enough food for the coming winter. The late-afternoon sky was a calm blue, light fluffy clouds bobbed along like giant cotton balls. The small town of Dawshan could be seen just over a hill streaming with wild flowers and dry leaves. The dandelions had lost their petals and were now white balls of fluff that floated everywhere when you ran through them.
    "Gum?" asked Ethan, pulling out a packet of mint chewing gum.
    "No thanks, I only like cinnamin", Elouise refused.
    "I know". Ethan pulled out a single stick of cinnamin from his back pocket. "Last one, put it to good use, young one", he joked.
    "Thanks", she said, stuffing the gum in her mouth and chewing noisily. He laughed at her then held out his hand to take the wrapper. She gave it to him with out hesitation and the two friends sat there, in the tree, chewing their gum with out a worry in the world.
    "So, weren't you planning to build a tree house with your dad?" asked Elouise.
    "Yeah, but we never found a good stable tree to use".
    "How bout this one?" she asked, slapping the trunk playfully.
    "I think it's a little far, El", he reasoned.
    "We walk up here every day practically, so who are you to say it's too far?"
    "Well, for one thing, there aren't any roads that come through here, so we'd have to carry all our supplies by hand".
    "So? It'll only take an hour! C'mon, let's go get it now, Eth", Elouise stood up and prepared herself for the climb down.
    "Geez, El, talk about ruin the moment. Just relax. Dad don't even got the supplies yet", he said, reclining again. Elouise rolled her eyes and sat back down.
    "Aw, Eth. All your doing is lying there! Time's a' wasting!" she said after a minute or two.
    "Naw it ain't. Now shut up and relax, El. You never get a day like this to just enjoy".
    "Okay, Eth, you win this one", btu after a moment added impatiently, "What bout when we get hungry?"
    "El..."
    "But I'm - "
    "Shut it".

    "It was such a nice day out today. I hope you two didn't spend the whole day inside", said Elouise's mother as she placed the sweet potatoes on the table.
    "Guess what?" Elouise said, and without letting her mother answer continued, "Me an Ethan found a tree!"
    Elouise mother looked puzzled.
    "A climbing tree", Ethan confirmed.
    "A tree-house tree!" said Elouise. Her mother nodded approval.
    "That sounds lovely. Where is your tree-house climbing tree, may I ask?"
    "It's a fifteen minute walk from here, over that hill", said Ethan responsibly, pointing at the hill through the window.
    "Oh, you two, you'd better not get too close. Mr. Angrid owns most of the land up there. I don't want you to go prowling around on someone else's property. I would be very disappointed if poor old Mr. Angrid had to deal with you too, with all his problems..."
    "Who's Mistuh Angered?" asked Elouise, spooning herself a generous helping of string beans.
    "Mr. Angrid - Mr. Angrid is a kind old man who lives up there. He was a good man, very fortunate, but now all he has is a run down old farm and sixty acres of land that he can't work and won't sell. Oh, he's been ill for years, ever since Madeline passed away - "
    "Who's Madeline?" asked Ethan.
    "Oh, miss Madeline. She was his only daughter. Got attacked by a rabid dog on the farm. She passed away soon after. Mr. Angrid had never been the same. Oh, yes Madeline was the only one he'd got, an then she'd done and died and he didn't have enough money to hire someone to work the land, but that Mr. Angrid wouldn't sell the land. He couldn't," her mother looked towards the sky and whispered a short word for Mr. Angrid before looking down at her daughter and her friend, "But, be it as it may, you two leave old Mr. Angrid alone, hear?"
    "Yes'm", the children promised and began eating their supper.