Trouble in the Trees by Yolanda Ridge

before trotting off after Tyler. “Too bad about the tree-climbing competition.”
    â€œYeah, too bad.” I smiled back.

Chapter 17
    Sure enough, the note was in my mailbox when I left for school the next morning. I read it, of course. I figured there was no way Tyler would know I had read it and I was sure that Sarah wouldn’t mind. Pretty sure anyway.
    All it said was, REMATCH . It was written in perfect block letters. Almost as if Tyler had written it over and over again until he got it just right. He’d used red ink.
    I could’ve told Sarah about the note when we met by the swings before school started. But for some reason, I waited until lunch.
    Before handing her the note, I described the showdown between Tyler and me. Sarah didn’t say much. She just nodded patiently and then slowly unfolded the note. She took way too long to read it—it was only one word after all—and then she folded it back up again. She set it on the edge of her lunch tray and continued eating.
    â€œSo?” I said.
    â€œSo what?” she said as she peeled her banana.
    â€œDon’t you think it’s weird? That he’d pass on an opportunity to get me into heaps of trouble?”
    â€œNot really. Tyler’s not as bad as you think.”
    I sighed. I couldn’t remember anything that Sarah and I had ever disagreed on. Until now. “So you’re going to give him a rematch? I’m assuming he means basketball?”
    â€œMaybe. We’ll see.” Sarah was diving into her bag of cookies now. She seemed totally disinterested.
    â€œBut if you don’t give him a rematch, he’ll think I didn’t give you the note and then he’ll go blabbing to the Neighborhood Council.”
    â€œRelax, Bree. Tyler’s not going to tell. Besides, they’re bound to find out sooner or later. There’s no way a big group of kids can keep a secret like that.”
    I didn’t say anything. I knew she was right, but I was mad at her for saying it. We both ate quietly until the bell rang.
    â€œAre you coming over after school?” I asked before she left.
    â€œNot tonight,” she said. I watched as she dumped what was left on her lunch tray into the garbage. But not before she pocketed the note from Tyler.
    I was miserable for the rest of the day. I kept thinking about what Sarah had said. I might be safe from Tyler, but no matter what either of us did, the council was bound to find out about the tree climbing eventually.
    When I got home from school, Ethan was waiting in the usual spot next to the mailboxes. There were three other kids with him, all holding baseball gloves. I made a mental note to bring bats next time. Parents must be getting suspicious about all this catching practice.
    â€œSo?” Ethan said anxiously.
    â€œTyler’s not going to tell.”
    â€œWhat happened? Did you do a climb-off? I can’t believe I missed it! I would have loved to see you beat him!” Ethan rambled on, clearly relieved.
    â€œI don’t really want to talk about it, Ethan,” I said. “And I think we should take a couple days off from climbing. Until things cool down, you know?”
    Ethan nodded miserably. “Sure, Bree. Want to play catch instead?”
    â€œNot now. Sorry, Ethan.” I smiled at him. “I’ve got a lot on my mind.”
    â€œOkay.”
    â€œI’ll see you later.” I walked around the corner and grabbed my bike from the garage. I cycled along the Fraser River until I was sure no one was watching. Then I turned and headed toward the railway tracks. To my trees.
    I hid my bike behind a bush and started climbing up into the Knife. I cleared my mind and concentrated on the branch in front of me. Within ten minutes I was as high as I could safely go. I wasn’t going to reach the top today.
    I sat on a branch near the trunk and let my feet swing freely below me. It felt good to be surrounded by big green