Gram waved as the children entered the street and pointed a warning finger at them. Bo smiled, nodded and waved back then turned to Cat and Egg upon reaching the sidewalk. “Now listen. That old battle axe probably got a shot in the keister and she’s stinko, so Mad Mary’s isn’t going to bother us. That’s why I’m showing you The Summertime Tree now. It would be better at night—cooler, but she might be up and about by then.”

          “Why can’t we just do it instead of sneaking about?” Egg inquired, as they walked slowly around the curve.

          “Because she doesn’t like anyone on her property and if you think Rance scares you now, wait until you see him lose his temper—you’ll do a number in your fancy britches. He says we’re trespassing—and that’s breaking the law. He thinks that tree is dangerous, so that is why we are doing it this way.”

          “Well if she wasn’t such a miser and gave it some water—even Casey said the tree needs a drink and he’s just a little shrimp. He is a lot smarter than that old sack of bones.” Cat said.

          “That’s not so and you know it. That tree sucked up everything out of that field until there’s nothing left to grow on. Now watch out for your aunt. She won’t be getting a cooking lesson today—but she’s about the house cleaning and she’ll get mad if she finds us.” Bo warned. “She thinks the tree’s rotten too.”

          “I got my ears open.” Cat said.

          “Yeah, I know. But there’s nothing between them.”

          “Did you hear that egg?” She turned indignantly. “He just called me an airhead.”

          Egg just shrugged. “I know—but he can’t prove it.”

          They approached the side of the house and knelt down. “See Miss Watts by any of the windows?” Bo whispered.

          “Nuh, uh.” Cat shook her head and Egg nodded. They moved quietly past the house and into the field.

          Bo rose. “Stay below the field grass and keep your eye out for Miss Watts.”

          Then they started running across the field. Cat had her head turned towards the house that was becoming smaller in the distance. She ran directly into the tree and fell backwards. “Whoa, Nelly!” She exclaimed in surprise.

          “Ah. tree there, Cat. I don’t think its going to move out of your way.” Bo smirked.

          She was rubbing her forehead. “Don’t just stand there like a goon. Help me up. I broke my ass.”

          Bo held his hand towards her and pulled her up. “You just stop that, bonehead. You know better.” Then he turned to Egg.

“Egg, don’t cuss around Rance or Gram, they won’t allow it. And you just clam up and keep this to yourself, Cat.” He warned. “Rance never laid a glove on me and I plan on keeping it that way.”