Chapter 2
Charlotte strolled over, coffee in hand.
"What's up?" she asked.
Michael flashed a sheepish grin. "I can't get down."
"Well, then stay up there for a while." Charlotte shot back.
"Mom." Michael whined.
"Calling me won't help. Go bother your dad."
Michael gritted his teeth and shouted at the top of his lungs toward the study, "Dad."
Arthur pushed open the study window, took one look, and instantly knew what was going on.
He glanced at Charlotte. "Should we call the fire department?"
Charlotte took a slow sip of her coffee and said, "Calling the fire department would be way too embarrassing. Michael's way too proud for that."
Michael got anxious. "No need for the fire department. Get me a ladder."
"A ladder? Didn't I tell you to take it apart and reassemble it? Did you even put it back together?" Charlotte asked.
Michael scratched his head, and judging by his expression, Charlotte was telling the truth.
"So what am I supposed to do now?" he asked.
"Stay up there, I guess." Charlotte replied.
Michael pleaded, "Mom, I'm hungry."
"Then come down and eat." Charlotte said.
"I can't get down." Michael whined.
"Well, I guess you'll have to stay hungry then."
Michael pouted and turned to me. "Ice, help me."
I couldn't let him struggle, so I circled the rock, checking for a way down.
I showed him the best route to climb down.
Michael followed my directions and landed safely, grinning wide. "Andrew, from now on, I've got your back."
Charlotte tapped him on the head with her coffee cup. "Still got the nerve to smile? If you dare climb again, I'll have every rock formation in the yard torn out."
Michael rubbed his head, still defiant. "If you tear them down, I'll climb the trees."
"Then I'll cut down the trees too." Charlotte shot back.
"Then I'll climb the roof." Michael retorted.
Charlotte paused for a second, then turned to Arthur. "Honey, I guess we'll all have to move into the basement today."
Arthur jumped right in. "On it, I'll call the movers right now."
Michael immediately hugged Charlotte, grinning up at her. "Okay, okay, I won't climb the roof. We don't have to move to the basement."
Michael managed to stay out of trouble for two days, only two days.
On the first day, he flooded an ant hill.
The next day, he went around the yard catching stink bugs, smeared the smell all over his hands, and chased everyone down to make them sniff it.
By the third day, he couldn't wait to drag me over the wall to sneak out and play.
Michael climbed up the wall with ease, using the ivy vines as footholds.
"Ice, hurry up." he called out.
I shook my head and walked out through the side door to wait for him.
He jumped down from the wall, looking at me in disbelief. "Seriously? Who uses the door when you can climb the wall?"
I was at a loss for words.
Michael's brain really worked in mysterious ways.
He led me through the alley like he'd done it a hundred times, and we ended up at the end of the alley.
A small river ran along the edge.
Two groups of kids, all about the same age, clustered by the riverbank.
They were catching tiny fish with nets.
Michael stripped off his shirt and shoes, then dove headfirst into the river.
He soaked the kid next to him with a big splash.
The kid yelled, "Michael, are you crazy?"
Michael stuck his tongue out at him, then dove back under.
He kept popping up with a tiny fish in his hand.
The kids on the bank were all trying to grab the fish from him.
I stood by the riverbank, not moving.
Sometimes, I thought Michael was pretty childish, even though he was a year older than me.
But then I watched a bunch of kids swarm around him.
He smiled so brightly, like a little sun, lighting up the whole place.
I wondered if this was what kids my age were supposed to be like.
I never wanted to go to kindergarten, so I never really hung out with other kids my age.
My parents hired a special private tutor for me.
I honestly had no idea what kids my age were supposed to be like.
I stood by the riverbank, not moving.