The wind was soft on his face, but the blood was pounding in his ears. He had never climbed a tree this high before. This tree climbing challenge was off the charts. It was even a bigger challenge than asking out Olivia, the most popular girl in the school.
“Climb Big Billy,” taunted Craig.
“Yeah, go on, Brendan. You can do it,” called out Chris.
Brendan had arisen to the dare. Big Billy was the tallest Eucalypt around these parts, and the tree had never been climbed before.
The group of school boys were too scared to scale Big Billy, so they had dared the shy bespectacled Brendan.
Wanting to prove himself had spurred him to action, with complete disregard to his own safety. Now, way up high, he was having misgivings.
All he wanted now was to have his two feet squarely on the ground.
“Um. Hello?” said a timid voice. “What are you doing in my tree?”
Glancing to his right, Brendan almost lost his grip on the bough he was clinging to. There, securely and serenely sitting in a fork, was a girl about his age, from school.
“S-sorry,” he stammered. “Is this *your* tree?”
“Yes. It’s my favourite place. I love the peace. No one’s been brave enough to climb as far as me.”
Brendan held his breath. Was she actually blushing?
Then he had a rush of excitement. She thought he was brave!
“Will you go out with me?” He held his breath again.
“Yes, of course I will.”
And with that, they climbed down the tree together, for both Craig and Chris to see.
As he and the girl came down out of the last branch, Craig and Chris were waiting.
But Brendan didn’t care.
“Hello? Meet my new date,” Olivia announced.
Liz's Everest 