"I'm coming down," Richard said. "Let me down, tree."
He seemed to be struggling. The branches were cagelike. He was caught!
Naomi's struggle was with her voice. "How did you ever get up there?" she called.
"The tree let me up, Mommie," Richard explained solemnly, "but he won't let me down!" He whimpered a little.
He must not become frightened! "You tell that tree you've got to come right down this instant!" she ordered.
She leaned against the cabin for support. Ted came out and slipped his arm around her.
"Break off a few leaves, Richard," he suggested. "That'll show your tree who's boss!"
Standing close against her husband, Naomi tried to stop shaking. But she lacked firm support, for Ted shook, too.
His advice to Richard was sound, though. What had been a trap became, through grudging movement of the branches, a ladder. Richard climbed down, scolding at the tree like an angry squirrel.