第6部分(第1/7 頁)

kite　seemed　forever　away。

Then　below　me　I　noticed　Bryce　ing　around　the　corner　and　through　the　vacant　lot。　And　I

could　tell　from　the　way　he　was　looking　up　that　this　was

his　kite。

What　a　lucky；　lucky　kite　this　was　turning　out　to　be！

“Can　you　climb　that　high？”　he　called　up　to　me。

“Sure！”　I　called　back。　And　up；　up；　up　I　went！

The　branches　were　strong；　with　just　the　right　amount　of　intersections　to　make　climbing　easy。

And　the　higher　I　got；　the　more　amazed　I　was　by　the

view。　I'd　never　seen　a　view　like　that！　It　was　like　being　in　an　airplane　above　all　the　rooftops；

above　the　other　trees。　Above　the　world！

Then　I　looked　down。　Down　at　Bryce。　And　suddenly　I　got　dizzy　and　weak　in　the　knees。　I　was

miles　off　the　ground！　Bryce　shouted；　“Can　you　reach

it？”

I　caught　my　breath　and　managed　to　call　down；　“No　problem！”　then　forced　myself　to

concentrate　on　those　blue　and　yellow　stripes；　to　focus　on　them

and　only　them　as　I　shinnied　up；　up；　up。　Finally　I　touched　it；　I　grasped　it；　I　had　the　kite　in　my

hand！

But　the　string　was　tangled　in　the　branches　above　and　I　couldn't　seem　to　pull　it　free。　Bryce

called；　“Break　the　string！”　and　somehow　I　managed　to

do　just　that。

When　I　had　the　kite　free；　I　needed　a　minute　to　rest。　To　recover　before　starting　down。　So

instead　of　looking　at　the　ground　below　me；　I　held　on　tight

and　looked　out。　Out　across　the　rooftops。

That's　when　the　fear　of　being　up　so　high　began　to　lift；　and　in　its　place　came　the　most

amazing　feeling　that　I　was　flying。　Just　soaring　above　the

earth；　sailing　among　the　clouds。

Then　I　began　to　notice　how　wonderful　the　breeze　smelled。　It　smelled　like　…　sunshine。