Trees

I've just returned from a city break with an old friend. While we were away I saw a Kieron tree. A tree that was perfectly formed for a little boy to climb, with  branches that were evenly spaced and sturdy and very inviting for a boy to climb and conquer.

Kieron climbs trees...and fences...and cliffs...and anything else that's in his path. After an initial surge onto the first couple of branches, he pauses to plot his path through the tree to maximise his chances of success. Any bugs he meets en route are subjected to a brief investigation followed by a lift onto a higher branch via Kieron's sleeve or any other place he decides to tuck them. My constant admonishments of 'be careful' are regarded with laughter. After all, Kieron's a brave explorer who is more than capable of climbing this tree. 

My neck aching from looking up and my heart beating too fast as I ready myself to catch him when he falls, I usually decide to join in and climb the tree too. And get stuck. And have to get rescued by Kieron the Superhero. Who then decides to tell everyone he sees for the rest of the day that his mum 'is a girl' who can't climb trees.

When Kieron was about 6, he went to my aunt's after school. My aunt lives in a cottage tied to a residential home with beautiful, manicured gardens. These landscaped lawns have trees that were just crying out to Kieron to climb them but unfortunately tree-climbing wasn't allowed. So my aunt kept watch as Kieron disappeared up into the leafy branches, ready to distract any of the gardeners who might wander along and see him. The minor fact that Kieron was clambering up the tree in his school uniform was disregarded along with the new scuffs on his school shoes. And that is how it should be. Little boys, trees and mud...perfect.