The tall gorgeous green pine stood before me.
It looked as if it was reaching into the sky.
The danger of climbing was real.
My parents voices echoed in my head
warning me not climb it.
But I had something to prove.

I used all my courage and leaped
I reached for the branch,
pulling and straining to get up
My hands slipping from the branch.

Creaking and cracking
the branch was breaking.

Dread and panic rushed over me
I knew I was done for.
A tremendous snap
I nearly fell to the ground
off the first branch.

“What were you worried about?”
I tried to laugh off my friend’s disappointed look.
“I was just warming up”
and I got ready to try again.