“I can do whatever I have to do, Cady. I cannot believe you children rode that contraption.” Agnes looked up at the Judas tree and started to shake. Lola placed a comforting hand on her arm and whispered something in her ear that only Agnes heard. She calmed almost immediately. Cady wished she could have heard the magic words Lola said to her mother.

“Anthony, Pete had a paper sack in his hand that day. Andy wanted to know what was in it, and Pete told him to mind his own business. It was probably his turn to bring cookies or crackers. You need a bag. Get the trash bag out of the car. Everyone take their places, and let’s do a dry run. I’m going to put on my life preserver and climb the tree. I’ll position you from the tree if I can remember where everyone was that day.

“Lola, just stand at the base of the tree. I know the line is safe because Boomer hooked it up yesterday. He checked it twice. He was going to tie a rope around my waist and pull me to shore when I fell in, but I think the preserver is a better idea. Give me time to get up in the tree.”

Cady’s feet sought for and found toeholds in the ancient tree. Before she knew it, she was settled in the wide V of the lowest branch. She needed to go one branch higher. She marveled at the change twenty years had made in the old oak.

“Okay, the way I remember it, it was Pete’s turn to bring the Kool-Aid and cookies, so I guess that’s what was in the sack. Amy took my arm and told me not to be afraid. She said all your heart did was beat real fast. I just wanted to get it over and done with before Jeff and Boomer got here.

“Andy said Jeff and Boomer were there earlier, so they pretended to leave, but then they came back to wait for me. He said Amy had her camera and would take pictures and send them to me at our new address. He warned me not to close my eyes.

“I was to go on the count of five. I climbed up here and then out onto this same branch. It wasn’t as thick back then as it is now. I didn’t weigh as much either.” She crawled on her belly along the thick branch. “I heard a hissing sound and turned around. Pete yelled to warn me Boomer and Jeff were there. Right away I tried to snake my way backward. They kept yelling at me to get down, but my overalls were caught on something.”

“Are you all right, Cady?” Lola called from the base of the tree. “I mean, really all right.”

“My heart is beating just as fast as it was that day. I’m okay. Seriously, Lola, I’m okay.

“Okay, listen to me,” Cady shouted. “This is where Jeff jumped from that tree,” she said, pointing to the tree next to the one she was in. “He let out one of those Tarzan yells to scare me, and boy, did he scare me.”