t？”

In　all　the　times　I'd　sat　out　there　with　him；　he'd　never　asked　me　that。　I　looked　at　him　but

couldn't　seem　to　speak。

He　mixed　two　hues　of　orange　together；　and　very　softly　he　said；　“Talk　to　me。”

I　sighed　so　heavily　it　surprised　even　me。　“I　understand　why　you　e　out　here；　Dad。”

He　tried　kidding　me。　“Would　you　mind　explaining　it　to　your　mother？”

“Really；　Dad。　I　understand　now　about　the　whole　being　greater　than　the　sum　of　the　parts。”

He　stopped　mixing。　“You　do？　What　happened？　Tell　me　about　it！”

So　I　told　him　about　the　sycamore　tree。　About　the　view　and　the　sounds　and　the　colors　and　the

wind；　and　how　being　up　so　high　felt　like　flying。　Felt

like　magic。

He　didn't　interrupt　me　once；　and　when　my　confession　was　through；　I　looked　at　him　and

whispered；　“Would　you　climb　up　there　with　me？”

He　thought　about　this　a　long　time；　then　smiled　and　said；　“I'm　not　much　of　a　climber　anymore；

Julianna；　but　I'll　give　it　a　shot；　sure。　How　about　this

weekend；　when　we've　got　lots　of　daylight　to　work　with？”

………　Page　19………

“Great！”

I　went　to　bed　so　excited　that　I　don't　think　I　slept　more　than　five　minutes　the　whole　night。

Saturday　was　right　around　the　corner。　I　couldn't　wait！

The　next　morning　I　raced　to　the　bus　stop　extra　early　and　climbed　the　tree。　I　caught　the　sun

rising　through　the　clouds；　sending　streaks　of　fire　from

one　end　of　the　world　to　the　other。