The Long Climb

Allie landed hard on her back, twigs snapping as the air rushed from her lungs. High above her, orange and red leaves slowly descended on her, vultures free from the broken perch above from which she fell. She rolled to her side, drawing her knees to her chest as she gasped.

She fell. But how? Allie climbed that tree every day. Every inch of bark, branch, knot, and bend that covered the old maple tree familiar. She had climbed that tree every day for how long now? Allie coughed a few more times and sat, staring up at the tree. Allie tilted her head, looked around, and pursed her lips as she looked around, taking inventory of the forest and leaves around her. Everything looked about the same as the day before, but not quite. She stood, dusted off her denim shorts, and bit her bottom lip. Allie put a hand to her head, checking for bumps, but could find none.

She had fallen yesterday, or perhaps the day before? Allie walked to the base of the tree and looked up. The old maple tree seemed a little taller. She shook her head. No, trees don’t grow that much overnight. The shadows made it appear taller, which explained it.

“How are you doing today?” A gruff voice asked behind her.

Allie spun and jumped back, ready to sprint back home.

“I’m sorry.” The voice belonged to an old white-bearded man. He raised a hand as he sat staring at her. His eyes, a shade of brown like her grandpa’s, but a lot more tired, his face full of wrinkles.

She didn’t recall meeting this man, but his face, so familiar. “Who are you?”

“Michael. That fall, whoa, scared me half to death. Quite a fall you took there. Are you okay?”

Allie tilted her head back, and her nostrils flared. “You mean you watched me fall, and you did nothing to help? You’re just an old jerk!” Her ma had told her you should always help someone, even if you never met them before.

“Whoa, hold on a minute. You were already on your way down, too late to catch. When you hit, I didn’t want to rush upon you.” He stood, slowly straightening his back. “And if I’m honest, not as young as I used to be.”

Allie stamped her foot. “You should have checked sooner. What if I had died?”

The older man took a step back and said something under his breath. He shook his head and said nothing else.

“What’s that? I can’t hear you. My ma says you should always speak loud enough for everyone.”

The older man squatted down and covered his face with his hand. Allie rushed over and patted the man’s shoulder. He recoiled at the touch, almost falling as he hurried back to his feet.

“I said I’m sorry.” The older man’s voice broke as he forced the words out through a sob.  

“It’s okay. You don’t need to cry. I’m a little upset, that’s all.” Allie turned her head back and forth as she stood on her tiptoes. Which way’s home? “Mister. What day is it? I think I fell yesterday, although it might have been today. Well, I mean, I fell today, but I think I fell yesterday too. The last thing I can remember is falling. I think I hit my head because I don’t remember when I got here.”

The older man steadied himself and let out a deep sigh. “It’s Tuesday.”

“My grandma should be home. If you promise not to cry anymore, I’ll make her give you something to eat, a place to sleep if my papap says it’s okay.”

The man shook his head and let out a noise, either a cry or a laugh. It was hard to tell.

“Don’t cry. Look. If you stop crying, I’ll do a cartwheel.” Allie was great at cartwheels, everyone in her third-grade class told her. Even Nancy and Allie didn’t like Nancy. She could make anyone smile when she did a cartwheel. Wait, Tuesday? She should have been in school on a Tuesday.

The man let out another sigh. “Thanks, you don’t need to. I’ll be okay.”

“You said Tuesday?” She was outside yesterday, maybe the day before. How long had she been out there? When did she come out here? She saw the sky peeking through the treetops and wanted to know if she could get high enough to look from the very top. Allie was terrific at climbing trees, way better than her older brother Dwayne. She was near the top when she heard a loud crack as if it was thunder during a storm. There was something else. Something not right. It made her let go of the branch she was holding. She had lost her balance, and the wood broke beneath her. Was that today?

“Yes, Allie, it’s Tuesday today.”

“How, how do you know my name?” It was Allie’s turn to step back. Her grandma told her to be wary of strangers, but this man seemed so familiar. There was something about his face, sad but kind, like Papap.

“I would never forget my granddaughter’s name.”

Allie’s breath caught in her chest. Papap, his beard was whiter, his face thinner, and skin a light taupe, lighter than it once was. She fell to her knees. She remembered what happened. Papa had gone out hunting; she had begged him to tag along. He said it was too dangerous, but Allie wanted to be brave and show her Papap she could be quiet and help him. He had gone to shoot Pheasant. If she climbed high enough, they would be easy to see. The sound of the rifle had startled her, and she fell.

“How come you never came to visit me? I’ve been so alone.” Tears flowed down her cheeks, Allie shook her head. She was so alone. Every day, she woke and climbed the tree. A bright white light that spread a warm glow all around her, pouring in from above. She wanted to go toward it, but she didn’t believe she would be able to. When she got high enough, fear enveloped her. There was that same crack, and she fell.

“I’m sorry, Allie. You were never here before. I used to come years ago, but today is the first day I noticed you.”

“Why now? Every day, I feel lost, alone. Every day, I fall and no idea where I am? Why didn’t you say you tell me it was you?” Allie lowered her head and sobbed.

Papap walked over to her and put his hand on her shoulder. “I didn’t recognize you at first. It’s been many years. It’s time for me to move on as well. This morning, I remember standing next to myself; I didn’t know what to make of it. Your ma and grandma sat there crying. I had passed. The light guided me, and I followed. It’s right over there, and I’m supposed to take you with me. I realize that now.”

Allie looked up at her Papap. A small brief smile formed. “I would like that.” She stood and took her Papap’s hand in hers. The warm glow embraced her skin. Hope replaced her fear, and the light that had eluded her for so long welcomed her.

 She was ready to go.