25 to Life-On Hold

The Tree

(The Cover Image is their tree)

-----Michael-----

She was just in a pair of black pants and a white tee, but she was stunning. She brushed her hair into a bun, and out of her face today. No make up. No jewelry. Nothing but her beautiful was on display. 

We all ran outside and across the yard, careful not to step on Danielle's rose bed, to The Tree. I love this tree. I had my first kiss in this tree, courtesy of Michelle. We gave our own private, kitchen concerts in that treehouse. We designed it together, and our dads built it together, well before he decided to up and leave. 

There really was no secret to getting in to the treehouse, we just always told the kids that because before, they were too young to get up there. We didn't want them to climb up, and fall out of the tree when no one was around. But, I think they are old enough now. At 9 and 7, I think they can handle it. 

Michelle and I looked at each other and knew exactly what each other was thinking.

-----Michelle-----

When we were young, we tried to make up our own little secret language, but we were unsuccessful. All we ended up with was 3 sentences.

1. oooh ahhh mee bess frend- You are my best friend. 

2. Pahrens heya-Parents are coming.

3. eyl luuv oooh foerer-I'll love you forever.

Looking back, I noticed all we did was basically phonetically say the sentences, but it was a whole other thing when we were kids. I know its terrible, and it might be some other foreign language, but we didn't care.

When the secret language didn't work out, we just studied each other's faces. 

I knew when he just looked at me, it meant "Meet me behind the garage." I told the kids to run back in for their jackets, and we walked over to the garage. 

"Let's just tell them it was a secret password to get to the tree house, and the doors don't open unless you say it right. What is the password?"

"I don't know. You think of something. It was your idea."

"Well it's your house."

"Well, those are your kids!"

"Well...Dammit, you're right...uhhhhh."

"What about our old language?"

"What part?"

"I don't know."

"What about eyl luuv oooh foerer"

"Roger that."

When the kids ran back out, they had a bag stocked full of blankets, candy, flashlights, and other little things. With a pillow in each of their hands, they strolled up to us like we wouldn't notice all the extra things they decided to bring.

"What have you got there?"

"Oh, just a few things..." says Savannah.

I looked at her amusedly. "Oh, really? Like what?"

"Just a few personal things to make the treehouse more homey..."

Michael spoke up, "so you guys are kicking us out huh? Just moving in.."

"Yep! So how do we get into this thing."

Mickey and I gave each other a look.

"Alrighty then, girls first."

Savannah climbed up the ladder, then I followed right after. While I waited for Mickey to grab all their bags, and climb up, I turned to Sav, "Hey you wanna get your uncle?"

"Yeah, but how..."

"Give me a sec," then I peeked over the railing to see where the boys were. Mickey looked up at me and held up his index finger. 

"We'll be right back we forgot the juice!" He said with a light chuckle as he retreated back toward the house.

"So here's what we'll do."