Baby Clifford

Tree House

Danny, Vince, and Ryan rode their bikes to Melody's home. Ryan took the big step and knocked on the door. Michael opened the door with his leather jacket and black combat boots and jeans, his tall figure making the nine and ten year old boys feel intimidated.

"Can Melody ride bikes with us, please?" Vince asked eagerly in a hurry, slightly afraid of his friend's dad. "We'll make sure no one hurts her! I promise!" Ryan exclaimed, making it a better chance of Michael saying yes. "Daddy, please!" A little voice exclaimed and small hands grabbed his pant leg.

Michael knelt down to the boys, "You promise that she won't get hurt and keep her in sight?" He asked in a slightly threatening voice. "Yes," Danny answered. Michael smirked and turned to Melody. "Well, I think someone better get their bike." Melody hugged him and kissed his cheek before running off to the garage. "She'll meet you in the driveway. See you later boys." Michael spoke calmly before closing the door. They all let out a sigh of relief, they always had a slight fear of Michael. The garage door opened and Melody came out with her black base and red graffiti bike as the others were already peddling on the road.

Melody didn't call them for her to wait up, she peddled fast enough to catch up with her friends. They road to the back of the suburban neighborhood, which reviled green wooden area. They all parked their bikes at the edge of it. "Last one there is a rotten egg!" Ryan cried in excitement and ran in to the woods with the others following. Melody ran as quick as she could, ignoring the thorns that broke her skin to the group's tree house. They didn't make, they found it.

The house was wooden and had a ladder on the base of the tree. It was even complete with a wooden sign that had white paint that read, NO GIRLS! Melody was an exception though, she was treated just like one of the guys. The guys didn't care that when they got older, Melody would go through puberty to look and maybe act more like a girl. "I beat you!" Ryan cried to Melody, who got second. "Vince is the rotten egg," She giggled, pointing at Vince, getting in the house.

There were two windows, a trap door that went to the ladder, a small black couch, and toys that the small group brought over time; but the best thing in the tree house was a tin lunch box that had a map, made by Danny, which lead to their houses, and a 'contract' that a said:

This three house is the secret fort for Danny, Vince, Ryan, and Melody. Its name is Invisible Spaceship. This fort has the main rule of No Girls, other than Melody became she is trusted. Adults and yucky younger siblings aren't allowed either! It doesn't matter what the reason is to come in this tree house as long as it is one of the four that own this house.
Rules and Contract are agreed by
Daniel William Rab
Ryan Edward Wade
Vince Jeffery Thompson
Melody Anastasia Lyric Clifford

The box also had their prized possessions: a blue baby blanket, a burglar LEGO man, a finished coloring book, and a stuffed lion.

"Melody, why does your dad dress scary?" Vince asked. "Nimrod, he isn't scary, you're just a wuss!" Ryan snapped at him. "He doesn't dress scary. He's always dressed like that." Melody simply answered.

"Danny! Stop being quiet!" Ryan yelled and threw a pebble at his leg. "I'm not!" Danny snapped. "Pissy today, aren't you?" Ryan snapped back, but less angry. "I'm not pissy!" Danny yelled. "Yeah and Melody isn't friends with us anymore. Cut the crap Danny, what's going on in your head?" Ryan shot back. Danny looked down, "You know how my mum is in the hospital and my aunt is watching me?" They all agreed. "T-they want to move, f-far away from here. Like three hours away, far." Danny sadly admitted, letting a tear slip.

All of them were quite, not sure what to say. They knew they couldn't be the group of friends they were without him. Melody looked at the floor, thinking of not having Danny around her. She gently played with the ring that he gave her in kindergarten. "I don't want to leave. They keep saying we have no choice. All I want is to not leave you guys. They just don't get it, at all." He mumbled the last sentence. "You'll move back, right?" Vince asked with a hopefully voice, but it seemed to drop at the word 'right.' "Yeah, then it'll be like how it is now!" Ryan exclaimed, making everyone smile at the thought. "I don't-- then it kinda would be fun if then we have more people to be friends with." Danny commented.