I ran outside after my siblings, yelling to dad that I’d be careful and watch the others. I saw two other girls running from their house down the street. We had yet to meet them. I ran across the street, smiling and laughing as we all raced to the bridge. We ducked under tree branches and went down into the crick instead of over the bridge. It had rained a few days prior and I leapt across the rushing water. My sisters had gone over the bridge and were waiting on the playground. My brother tried to jump the crick and ended up soaking his shorts and shoes.

“Wow! Good job little bro! Way to go on successfully being dumb.” The two girls from down the street were behind me and laughed at my words. “Shut up, Dahna.” “It’s Dana you little girl, and I’d like to see you try and hush me.” I stuck my tongue at him and ran around the park, towards the swings and into a pine tree near the back of the park. My brother started climbing after me, his pants still dripping wet. “Looks like Trenton peed himself guys! I thought you got over that years ago little brother.” “Grrr. Stop it! I’ll drag you out of this tree, idiot.” “Oh, I’m so scared! Whatever shall I do to escape this scary man?” I turned and jumped down from the branch I had perched on.

Trenton gave up chasing me and ran back to the house to change. I could hear my dad scold him and I laughed with my sisters. “Molly, why don’t you make friends with her?” I pointed to the younger of the two girls from down the street. “And take Day-Day with you. I’m gonna climb the “cabin”. Okay?” “I don’t see why Adayla has to come with me.” “‘Cause she can’t climb with me yet and dad said we had to include her. So, today that’s your job. Toodles!” I smiled and waved as I ran towards the cabin-like structure at the park.

It was like a miniature cabin, with lots of space between each wooden log. A doorway was left in the middle front and lead into the dirt floor. The roof logs were spaced far enough apart to sit on and dangle your legs down through. I could sit up there, higher or lower or right on top and just listen to everything around me for hours. The blonder, older girl came over and climbed up next to me, saying hi. “Oh, hi. I’m Dana. I live just there, right across the park.” “I’m Lily, and I live in the brown house there.” She pointed down the street. “Gotta say, it was fun watching you and your brother.” “It’s just normal sisterly teasing. Trenton is angered easily, but won’t act on it very much. Molly and Adayla are my sisters, Molly is the older one talking to your sister.” “Aw, they’re cute. Especially Adayla. And my sisters name is Ruby. She’s annoying and bratty.” We laughed and talked some more, introducing more of ourselves.

“I just love sitting up here and relaxing. It’s nice and the breeze feels good most days.” Lily had asked me what I liked doing most at this park. I told her the truth. “Oh, I also love climbing the trees here. Just the pines though. Also, the one in my front yard. I sit up on the branch that’s sticking out straight and drawing or listening to music or napping.” “Napping?” “Oh yeah. I fall asleep up there sometimes. It’s only for a few minutes because my dad calls for me inside or something.” “That’s interesting. But fun I guess.” “Yeah. Just living life.”

It was a couple weeks later that I saw Lily again. School was in session still, but we had just moved to this side of town not long ago while our mom was on the other side of town with her boyfriend and our baby brothers. All of our windows were being replace with bigger, better ones courtesy of our landlord. The window for the room I shared with my sisters was done, the other one completely covered up and gone. Trenton’s was still in progress and the work men were cutting a larger hole for the living room window to fit. We could climb in and out of the house, using our adorable charm and our dad to get permission to go through the window hole.

I saw Lily and Ruby sitting on the fences at the park entrance. “Lily! Come over here!” She heard me and dragged her sister across the street to us. I handed her a coke from the cooler and one to Ruby. “Like our new door?” I asked. She laughed and said, “Oh yes. It’s very nice and lets lots of natural light, air and bugs inside.” We laughed again. “So, I was wondering if you were in school yet. I haven’t seen you at my school and you don’t seem to leave for school or return from school, far as I’ve seen.” “Oh, yeah. I start school on Monday. So, in four days. I’m in Ms. K’s class.” She said the teachers full name as a question and I nodded. “No way! That’s my class! Oh you’re gonna love it. She’s nice and I can help you out. Fourth grade is tough, but fun.” “That’s amazing! Now I know I’ll have someone I know to help me out.”

My fourth grade year finally started back up, after being at a crappy school first quarter. Lily had told the whole class about me and was excited to have me there with her. She was allowed to show me the ropes and help the teacher catch me up on lessons. I met all her friends at recess and quickly became friends with them. Some weird ones, and a quiet one who was really nice when you got her to talk and laugh and have fun. At the end of the day, we went home and after homework, I raced to the park cabin and saw Lily waiting for me. We all played at the park until the street lights came on, signaling for us all to head home for dinner and bed.

“Hey, Dana! Hang on!” “What is it?” “Just wanted to say that I’m glad we know each other. You’re fun and school’s gonna be awesome with you.” “I’m glad too.” “Friends?” I smiled at the blonde. “Friends.”