A Putzie Centric

Up In A Tree

9 ½ years old Putzie Jacobs gets stuck in the tree and is scared to get down. So of course, his best friends come to his rescue.

It was a nice cool evening fall of 1949, 5 little boys who were 10 and 9 ½ years old at the time, were playing tag in Danny's backyard. "C'mon and get us Danny!" Doody giggled as Danny chased after his best friends.

"No you won't, Zuko!" Kenickie yelled.

Putzie Jacobs, ran over to a tree and started to climb, but once he noticed how high he was, he started to get scared.

"Help!" Putzie called out.

The four boys stopped running to see their youngest best friend up in a tree.

"I'm scared!" Putzie screamed. "Please get me down!"

Putzie may have been the same age as the boys were but he was small and more sensitive for his age.

"Don't look down, Roger! I'm coming!" Danny called out.

"No Danny, you're gonna get hurt." Sonny said, stopping him.

"I don't care, this is Putzie we're talking about." Danny said running over to the tree and started climbing.

Once he sat on the tree branch facing Putzie, he held his hand out.

"Ok Putzie, reach for my hand and keep your eyes on me, not down." Danny ordered. "Got it?"

Danny may be 10, but he is mature for his age and is protective of his best friends, especially with Putzie and Doody, that includes the younger kids as well.

"C'mon, it's ok. I got you." Danny gently says.

Putzie looks at Danny, slowly reaching out to grab Danny's hand and Danny grabs his arms, pulling him close to him.

"Ok, get on my back and we'll go down together." Danny said as he turned around from Putzie.

Putzie wraps his arm around Danny's neck and wraps his legs around Danny's waist, closing his eyes shut.

"Ok ready brother?" Danny asked.

Putzie nods a little.

"Ok, here we go." Danny said as he carefully slid off the branch, catching himself holding onto the branch. "Kenickie!"

Kenickie ran under Danny and tried to reach Danny's shoe so they both wouldn't fall and break their necks.

"This is not gonna work!" Danny said. "Ok Putzie, you have to do me a huge favor!"

"What?" Putzie asked.

"Let go of me and Kenickie will catch you." Danny tells him.

"But I'm scared." Putzie whimpers.

"It's ok Babyface, I won't let you get hurt kid!" Kenickie assured him.

Doody hides behind Sonny.

"You have to do it brother." Danny said. "I promise you that nothing's gonna happen to you."

"Ok." Putzie mumbles.

He let his legs hang.

"There you go buddy!" Sonny yelled. "You can do it!"

Putzie took a big breath and let go of Danny as Kenickie caught him in his arms.

"That's my Babyface!" Kenickie smiled as he held Putzie close to him.

Putzie was scared of his wits as he clings to Kenickie.

"Ok, here I go!" Danny called out as he jumped down from the tree.

"You ok little buddy?" Doody asked as they walked over to him.

Putzie just hides in Kenickie's arms.

"You did it, Putz." Danny smiled. "I knew you could do it."

Putzie looks up at his friends.

"I was brave?" Putzie asked.

"Of course." Sonny smiled.

"You're Putzie Jacobs." Doody added.

Kenickie gently set Putzie down on his feet.

"I know." Putzie smiled.

The boys chuckled at him.

"Danny, I'm tired from playing tag." Putzie said.

Danny saw the innocence in his best friend.

"We can take a break Babyface." Danny tells him.

Putzie hugs Danny before they went inside.