THE WALKER RANCH

Andrew headed out to the yard, trying to scope out the good trees for himself. He saw one across the yard that looked perfect. He ran over to the tree and slipped up into it easily--as if he had been born to climb trees all his life. There was nothing better in the world than climbing. He knew how to get way up high in the tree and how to make sure he didn't slip. He always felt happiest up in a tree.

John aked over and looked up at Andrew "how did you get up there so fast" he asked squinting against the sun as he tried to see him, grabbing a branch he pulled himself up , then grabbing another he slowly made his way to Andrew "hey this is fun" he said smiling as he sat facing him "cool you can just see Khaats house from up here, dad should have used this tree for the hosue not that smaller one" he looked at Andrew "you ok?" he asked laying back against the trunk of the tree as he found aleave fall to his lap.

"Yeah. Fine. So that's the farm over there, huh? Pretty big place. Not bad. It'll be fun to explore if they let us. But, no the other tree is better for the treehouse. Its all in the shape of the tree. This one is good for climbing, but not so good for a treehouse. Doesn't have a good enough center structure to it. The one your dad chose is the best choice I've seen so far. And he seems to need to know where we are. So, probably closer to the house makes him more comfortable. It's weird, you know. Having anybody who honestly wants to know where you are. My father only wanted to know where I wasn't--wasn't into trouble somehow where he'd have to actually get up out of his chair or interrupt something he was doing. And none of it was ever good. You're lucky you never met him."

John nodded "from what you tell me yeah , my dad like to know where we are , I guess like you say it makes him happy paticularly with what happend to us, guess he just happy to have us around ya know because my mom was killed and for you it because i guess your a bit like him, mom use to say he was left alone buy his dad and was picked on buy the other kids because ..."John stopped "hes half cherakee, thats a native indian where i come from, they didn't like it and called him names, he told me once" John foded the leaf nd threw it down it glided on a current of air right threw the open kitchen window "wow that went far " he said grinning

'Well, that's a good test to see what the wind is doing. If we send about ten more of them that way, though, we might tick your dad off. I'm used to being on my own. I've been doing it longer than I can remember. What I'm not used to are parents. Or professors. People that tell me what to do, how to do it, and when to do it, and why. I know, they all say its for my own good. But sometimes I just dont' get it. I've been doing it on my own this long. Now I need parents?"

Andrew smirked "yeah just a bit " he said letting another fly in threw the window and chuckled "I guess they do it for a reason , not just to annoy us" he said folding another but this time he didnt throw it he just held it twisting it in his fingers around and around " I guess they do it because they care for us they want us to grow up differant to them, but some don't care they just , I guess don't have that thing to care" he said swinging his foot as it hung from the branch under him.

"Yeah, "Andrew agreed, "I'm just saying its different for me. Its going to take some getting used to. That's for sure. So tell me. What the heck is a barbeque? We never had one. My father didn't believe in letting other people into the house. I don't know why. But what is all this we're doing this afternoon?"

Andrew smiled "its like out doors cooking on a big open metal half bucket that filed with hot coals and a metal thing across the top where the food goes, you'll love it , the smell the food the atmospear, is great" john saw Steven below and let the leaf he held fall down to hit him gently on the head. "what the", he looked up and smiled "ok you two come on time to go to Khaats for teh barbaque" he said chuckling "how in tarnations did ya get way up there?" he asked watching as John climbed back down he ruffled John hair as he touched the ground looking he waited for Andrew to join them.

Andrew slipped out of the tree more easily than a snake or a chimp. It was just second nature to him. But he'd made a small mistake on the way down. Not noticeable, except by him. He now had an ache in his shoulder that had come after a very strange cracking sound that happened when he twisted his arm a strange direction. But he'd had bumps and scrapes before. This was nothing. He brushed it off and continued.

Steven noticed Andrew slip but kept it in mind he knew a boy like him hardly ever made mistakes , yet he was still a boy and for that he could make slips. He smiled as John ran back out of the house " Come on all the best bits will be gone" he shouted standing impashiotly waiting with his arms folded "Ok were coming John, andrew you ok I saw ya slip ?" he asked knowing even if he was hurt his pride would stop him saying anything to him, and he understood why.