Tree Swing
September 27, 2020
Excitement grew as the energetic 11 year old boy found a rope. With a large oak tree sitting next to the sandy driveway and a few yards from the street, it offered strong branches calling out for a swing. The chubby, crew cut headed boy threw the rope over the most accessible branch. And, a swing was born. He managed to securely tie the rope and added a loop at the bottom, just the right size to slip in his foot. Oh, the joy of freely swinging through the warm summer’s air!
Finding it difficult for his 3 year old sister to manage her swinging with just a foot loop, they went on a hunt for a solution. Through the house, through the basement and trailing throughout the backyard, he came up with an old, grayed piece of wood. It was a good length for a seat, flat and no splinters, the perfect swing for a little sister.
Sliding her leg onto the wooden makeshift swing seat, the rope pushed against the inside of her right thigh. With a little help up from her brother’s two hands, she raised her left leg up and placed it on the other side of the blonde colored rope. The well worn rope was almost the same color as her brother’s short hair which almost stood on end as the afternoon sunlight pushed its way through the many green leaves of the offering tree casting a warm yellow glow upon both of them.
She felt the rough braid of the rope on her tender fingers as her grip tightened and she prepared for a push. His larger, but still kid sized hands, gently pushed against her back. Gravity forgave their efforts and she gained a short distance of a swing which felt endless to her. She was swinging! Back and forth, up and down, she could feel the breeze brush her rosy cheeks with every swing. She could feel her hair carelessly flying through the air and wrapping around her face proving that the exhilarating feeling was real. That summer afternoon was filled with sibling joy, for a few, too brief moments, and an honest feeling of love as an endless memory.
