Tisha's Predicament

She never intended to get stuck in the fork of the pear tree. It was a little embarrassing, her bottom sticking through the two limbs like a great, big pimple. Ready to pop. Disgusting.

Except that it was her brain that was about to explode.

“Whatcha doing up there, Tisha?”

Oh, great. Of course, it was Matt that found her. Tisha looked down at her little brother in disgust. “I’m waiting for the ice cream man. What does it look like?”

“It looks like you’re stuck. But I’m just a kid. You always tell e so. What do I know?” Matt turned and began to walk away.

“Wait!” Tisha wiggled, trying to free herself for about the millionth time since she lost her balance and fell, jamming her nether regions in this predicament. “Matt, wait!”

But he didn’t.

Of course not. He was her little brother. What did she expect?

Tisha looked around her. Here, in the middle of the orchard, was a great place to go when she wanted some alone time. But it was no place to be stuck.

She didn't want to be scared, but she threw her head back and yelled, “Matthew! Matt, get Mom or Daddy! Pleeeeeeease!”

But he didn’t slow down or turn. He just kept walking.

Of course.

Tisha thought of all the things she would do to Matt when she got out of this pear tree. She’d smash his hot wheel cars. She’d let the air out of his basketball. She’d mess up his room so that Mom and Dad thought he hadn’t done his chores. She’d color in his school book and get him in lots and lots of trouble.

That’s what she’d do when she got out of this tree. She frowned as her mind went in another direction.

That’s what she’d do if she got out of this tree. She started to wiggle again, but instead of getting herself less stuck, she felt herself sink further into the fork of the tre.

“Matthew!” she called again, but this time her voice didn’t sound strong and angry. It sounded small and scared. She didn’t like that.

What she didn’t like even more was thinking about sitting in this tree forever. She imagined dark nights, chilling rain, and summer heat that would bake her like a cupcake.

“Matthew?”

“I’m coming. I’m coming. Hold your horses.”

T isha tried to turn to see , but her bottom was too stuck to let her. She could hear banging and brushing sounds as her brother walked toward her.

“What are you doing?” she called again.

Of course Matt didn't answer. Just like a kid brother!

She heard a squeak that sounded familiar. What was that?

Their Daddy's ladder!

Matt climbed up to be eye-level with her. He smiled and handed her a bottle of water. “I thought you might be thirsty,” he said. Then he handed her a sloppy-looking peanut butter and jelly sandwich and two chocolate chip cookies. “I thought you might be hungry, too.”

Tisha blinked back tears. She started to thank him, but he waved her off.

“Let’s get to work on getting you out of here,” he said, instead.

Matt climbed down the ladder. When he came back up, he had a hammer in his belt and held a big, sharp saw.

Tisha felt her eyes grow wide. She imagined Matt pounding and sawing the limbs that held her and began to shake her head. “No!, Matt, I don’t think that’s a good idea!”

Her brother started to laugh. “Just kidding. I wanted to see what you’d do."

Daddy and Grandpa are on their way to push you out.”

Sure enough, in just a few minutes, the two men showed up. They chuckled at Tisha’s predicament but pushed and pulled until she was free.

While they were walking home from the park, Tisha thought of all the things she would do for Matt now that she was out of that pear tree . She’d play hot wheel cars with him. She’d air up his basketball and shoot some hoops with him. She’d clean his room so that Mom and Dad didn't think he hadn’t done his chores. She’d collect his school book and get them ready for tomorrow.

She put her arm around Matt's shoulder as they walked.

He may be a little brother and he may be a pain, but...

She smiled. He was her hero.