Maggie's Memos: A Fall Story (Get it? You will!) :)

Today was one of those beautiful, crisp autumn days.  Not too hot, not too cold.  The sun was shining through a hazy layer of clouds.  Tess and I decided it would be a perfect day to go out to the backyard and climb some trees.  Well, okay, I decided it would be a good idea to climb trees.  Tess doesn't mind tree-climbing, but she'd much rather sit under a tree and read a book.  She agreed to at least come outside.  I figured I'd persuade her to do more once we got there.

The best climbing tree in Mama's back yard is a tall nectarine tree.  As I predicted, I was able to convince Tess to climb with me for a while.  Before I knew it, she was up higher than me!  Sure, she acts all girly and helpless, but when she needs to be, she can be pretty adventurous. 

I took my time climbing up, enjoying the beautiful view and the smell of the fresh fall air. 

Finally, I made it up to where Tess was sitting.  There was a branch that made a perfect perch for me right in front of her.

"You're right, Maggie," Tess admitted.  "This is lots of fun."

I grinned.  "Much better than sitting under the tree and reading," I teased.

"Maybe not better," Tess answered, "but still fun."  She glanced down below us.  "Just hold on tight," she advised me.  "We're a long way up!"

I looked down too.  "Oh, this is nothing!" I laughed.  "I've climbed trees way taller than this."

Tess shuddered.  "This is high enough for me," she stated firmly.

I laughed again, then pulled myself up with the branches above me until I was standing up.

"Maggie, what are you doing?" Tess asked nervously.  "It's not safe to stand up in the tree like that."

"I'm on top of the world!" I called out loudly.

"Be careful, Maggie, that branch isn't very big!" Tess warned me.

I turned around to tell her there was nothing to worry about.  The next thing I knew, I had lost my balance and was falling through the air.  Before I could fall all the way, my foot caught on the branch I'd been standing on.  I caught a brief glimpse of my hat as it plunged to the ground below. 

I hung there for a minute, wondering if I could reach up high enough to grasp hold of the branch without making my foot lose its hold.  Before I could decide, my foot slipped from the branch and I continued my tumble towards the ground. 

It's an odd sensation falling out of a tree.  I felt like I was dreaming in slow motion.  I wondered if I'd be able to land somewhere soft, or if I could find any other branches and hold on before I fell all the way.  Then I thought, "What a pitifully embarrassing way to go!"

And suddenly, my hands felt another branch.  I grabbed it as hard as I could, first with one hand and then with the other.  Saved!  From there I was able to jump to the ground.  I landed with a thud in the soft grass. 

I could hear Tess shrieking from above, "Maggie!  Are you okay?"  She was already scrambling down the tree.  Within moments, she was standing next to me.

"I'm fine, Tess," I assured her as I stood to my feet and brushed myself off.  "Wanna climb again?"

"ARE YOU CRAZY?!?" she gasped.  "I just watched you fall from all the way up there...I was sure you were going to crack your head open...and now you want to climb trees again?!  No way!"

"Aww, come on, Tess," I answered, laughing.  "You know what they say about getting back on the horse after he bucks you off..."

Tess just shook her head.  "I can't BELIEVE you..." she muttered.  "I'm going in the house to get my book.  Let me know when you're done trying to kill yourself." 

Some girls just have no sense of adventure. ;)

Best Friends 4Ever, even when we drive each other nuts! :)