George's foot swung slowly back and forth as he sat in the arms of his favorite oak tree. How he loved Springtime. The meat of his apple tasted sweet and juice ran down his chin as he bit into it."George? George Snyder? Where are you hiding?" The voice sounded irritated yet playful.
Aw. That Nell never gives me any peace. George sighed and tossed his apple core at the feet of the young girl.
She let out a little yelp as she leapt away from the offending fruit. "Whatcha doin' up there?"
George laughed and shimmied down the tree. "Just thinkin' on how we might get a swing set up on this ol' monster."
"Really? Would you push me on it? I'd like that George." Nell batted her eyes at him. Her long black hair was bound up in some kind of clip that looked more like a torture device than a beauty product. But, it did show off her green eyes splendidly.
Blushing, George kicked at a pile of leaves. "Maybe. I've got some wood and a bit of rope, but not enough for both sides of the swing."
Nell smiled and held up a finger. "I've just the thing!" She took off running.
George pushed back his shaggy brown hair. How long had he known Nell? They used to play everyday, growing up next door to each other in the deep woods of the Blue Ridge Mountains. As he walked over to the barn he wondered when she stopped being his chum and became a girl? He shrugged and shook his head.
The barn door squeaked when he pushed it open. Now where did I put that wood? He found it under a pile of chicken feed, picked it up, and turned toward the daylight. On his way out, he grabbed the rope hanging on a rusty nail just inside the door frame.
Nell was waiting for him under the oak tree, skipping rope while singing a silly tune.
"Oh, gee, Nell. I can't be usin' a sparkly purple jump rope on my swing!"
"Come on, George. It's not like anybody'll see. Besides, it's part my swing, too."
"Fine. But we've got to label it...just in case someone does. Got a pen?" George tied off the purple rope's end and attached it to one side of the wood.
"Nope. I do have this though." Nell pulled a paper clip out of her jean's pocket.
"Yeah, like that'll help." He rolled his eyes and chuckled.
"Shows how much you know, smarty pants." Nell opened up the clip, grabbed the wood from George's hands, and started scratching the wood with the clip.A few minutes later, she presented her workmanship to George.
"Okay. I like how your name is on the purple rope side and mine is on the normal rope side...but why'd ya hafta put that stinkin' heart in the middle of the seat?"
Nell smiled. "No reason."
George reddened again. "Girls," he mumbled and climbed back up the tree to tie off the swing.
