enough outside the pine tree that we could clearly see the
lake before us, despite the dimming natural light around us. I eyed
the grey clouds hovering in the distance and felt the chilly breeze
shepherding them towards us.
Still,
Maddie’s face radiated bliss. We observed the quiet shore that had
quickly been abandoned as the weather darkened. “I’m going to miss
this tree,” she said, inhaling the potent fragrance emanating from
the branches. I nodded my head, knowing exactly what she meant. It
wasn’t that this particular tree smelled any different than the
other evergreens surrounding us, but this tree had
history.
It was a
few years ago that my sisters and I found this tree. I was ten at
the time. We liked it because it was part of a small cluster that
grew close to the shoreline and was located half a mile from the
cabins—not super far, but enough to get out of sight. If we ever
wanted to escape our boring parents for a while, we’d take off
running and play on our own. Of course, we did get in trouble
sometimes—like the time Maddie was only five and was scrambling
after us, trying to keep up with my sisters and me. She didn’t
climb very far, but she fell and fractured her arm just below her
elbow. It was after that summer that we promised to play together
and not ditch Maddie just because she was seven years younger. This
tree became a sort of clubhouse—without the actual “house” part, of
course.
So it
was no wonder that on our last day at Hidden Pines, we found
ourselves, as usual, climbing one more time to take in the
beautiful view and capture the fresh scent of nature drifting
through the air. I propped my back against the tree trunk,
straddling the branch, and letting my right leg swing casually back
and forth. Maddie faced me, balancing her position by holding onto
the branches around her.
“ What are you looking forward to this year?” I asked
her.
“ Gymnastics,” she said, her smile broadening. “The beginning
class is too easy now, so Mom said I can move up to the next level
and go three times a week. By next summer, I will be almost as fast
and strong as you!”
I
laughed with a nod. “I’m sure you will.” A few drops of rain hit me
in the eye, and I wiped them away with my hand. “We need to get
back soon.” Maddie didn’t even seem to notice the breeze getting
colder and the droplets dampening her shirt.
“ What are you looking forward to?” she asked, returning the question. “All
those boys that like you?” Her grin teased me, and she puckered up
her lips in a pretend smooch.
I kicked
playfully at her leg, making a face. “Nah, not the boys. They’re
more trouble than they’re worth.” I wouldn’t get into the details
with my young cousin, but I had little intention of getting serious
with anyone for a while. “Our basketball team is going to rock it
this year, though. That’s what I’m excited about.” Running suicides
to Coach’s whistle, with my sneakers squeaking and sweat dripping
onto the court, were not my favorite drills, but it was all worth
it for the adrenaline of game day.
“ You gonna be captain?” Maddie asked. “You should be, with
your whole family on the court this year!”
“ Maybe. I think so.” After the thrill of Sectionals, I
couldn’t wait to play ball with my sisters again. It would
definitely be a memorable tribute to my senior year before I
graduated. Our conversation came to a halt as thick clouds showered
us with heavy rain.
“ Time to go!” I called to Maddie, making the first move down
the tree. With a frown, she followed suit. Just as I reached the
bottom, Maddie hopped down from her branch with a quick thud and
took off running.
“ Wait, where are you going?” I shouted, watching her movements
take her away from the cabins.
“ The river, of course. Just one more time!” Maddie didn’t even
glance back to see if I followed. “Come on, Allie! Hurry
up!”
“ Madison, don’t run off.” My words were
lake before us, despite the dimming natural light around us. I eyed
the grey clouds hovering in the distance and felt the chilly breeze
shepherding them towards us.
Still,
Maddie’s face radiated bliss. We observed the quiet shore that had
quickly been abandoned as the weather darkened. “I’m going to miss
this tree,” she said, inhaling the potent fragrance emanating from
the branches. I nodded my head, knowing exactly what she meant. It
wasn’t that this particular tree smelled any different than the
other evergreens surrounding us, but this tree had
history.
It was a
few years ago that my sisters and I found this tree. I was ten at
the time. We liked it because it was part of a small cluster that
grew close to the shoreline and was located half a mile from the
cabins—not super far, but enough to get out of sight. If we ever
wanted to escape our boring parents for a while, we’d take off
running and play on our own. Of course, we did get in trouble
sometimes—like the time Maddie was only five and was scrambling
after us, trying to keep up with my sisters and me. She didn’t
climb very far, but she fell and fractured her arm just below her
elbow. It was after that summer that we promised to play together
and not ditch Maddie just because she was seven years younger. This
tree became a sort of clubhouse—without the actual “house” part, of
course.
So it
was no wonder that on our last day at Hidden Pines, we found
ourselves, as usual, climbing one more time to take in the
beautiful view and capture the fresh scent of nature drifting
through the air. I propped my back against the tree trunk,
straddling the branch, and letting my right leg swing casually back
and forth. Maddie faced me, balancing her position by holding onto
the branches around her.
“ What are you looking forward to this year?” I asked
her.
“ Gymnastics,” she said, her smile broadening. “The beginning
class is too easy now, so Mom said I can move up to the next level
and go three times a week. By next summer, I will be almost as fast
and strong as you!”
I
laughed with a nod. “I’m sure you will.” A few drops of rain hit me
in the eye, and I wiped them away with my hand. “We need to get
back soon.” Maddie didn’t even seem to notice the breeze getting
colder and the droplets dampening her shirt.
“ What are you looking forward to?” she asked, returning the question. “All
those boys that like you?” Her grin teased me, and she puckered up
her lips in a pretend smooch.
I kicked
playfully at her leg, making a face. “Nah, not the boys. They’re
more trouble than they’re worth.” I wouldn’t get into the details
with my young cousin, but I had little intention of getting serious
with anyone for a while. “Our basketball team is going to rock it
this year, though. That’s what I’m excited about.” Running suicides
to Coach’s whistle, with my sneakers squeaking and sweat dripping
onto the court, were not my favorite drills, but it was all worth
it for the adrenaline of game day.
“ You gonna be captain?” Maddie asked. “You should be, with
your whole family on the court this year!”
“ Maybe. I think so.” After the thrill of Sectionals, I
couldn’t wait to play ball with my sisters again. It would
definitely be a memorable tribute to my senior year before I
graduated. Our conversation came to a halt as thick clouds showered
us with heavy rain.
“ Time to go!” I called to Maddie, making the first move down
the tree. With a frown, she followed suit. Just as I reached the
bottom, Maddie hopped down from her branch with a quick thud and
took off running.
“ Wait, where are you going?” I shouted, watching her movements
take her away from the cabins.
“ The river, of course. Just one more time!” Maddie didn’t even
glance back to see if I followed. “Come on, Allie! Hurry
up!”
“ Madison, don’t run off.” My words were
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