In the beginning, Steven Stanford had started off like any other normal kid, the desire to have a place he could call his own. In his back yard had grown a massive cottonwood tree, larger than any other tree in the neighborhood. There had been the initial complaints that allowing him to build a tree house would not only be an eyesore, but would also lower property values. After all, kids would use anything for building materials.
Steven was not the average twelve-year-old. His father, Michael Stanford, was the foreman for Diamond Estate Homes. At age seven, during the summer vacations, Steven was more interested in spending his days with his father and the workers than playing ball with his friends. He had been fascinated to see bare ground transformed into a beautiful house.
The love for the craft could be seen now as he and three friends painstakingly coated every finished piece of lumber with a durable water sealer over stained finish. The work completed was nearly all conception of the idea; Steven had shoveled snow and mowed lawns throughout the neighborhood so that he could purchase the materials on his own, from his father and the men on the construction sites. He learned the finer points of framing, fishing, and furnishing it, without the technical details, the multiple levels and handmade arched windows would not have been possible.
As the boys stepped back to admire the final result, Steven took notice of the crowd gathering for the last hour on the street just to the side of his yard. There were parents with kids and cameras. A man and woman from a news van, and Vanessa, the most beautiful girl in his homeroom class this year.
Steven couldnt believe she was actually looking at him! Summoning his courage, he raised his hand and smiled. Expecting her to ignore him as she had done all through school, but instead, she smiled and waved back. Unbelievingly, he quickly glanced over his shoulder at his buddies. They were still admiring the tree house and its decks. It had really been him she had waved to!
Guys! Check it out! Its Vanessa! Steven said, trying not to sound too excited.
Embarrassing him, they ran to the railing and pointed right at her.
Holy shit! Brian said, Her boobs are even bigger!
Like youd know what to do with them! Carl said, giving Brian a shove.
More than you! At least Ive seen boobs, real boobs!
Forcing himself to look away, Steven looked annoyingly at Brian. Your sisters dont count.
Bite me, dill weed! Boobs are boobs.
Steven dismissed his claim with a wave of his hand as he turned toward the lowered gangway stairs. It wasnt worth fighting over. Besides, Loris boobs were nothing new, but Steven would never admit to having taken her for a ride in his goat cart for the chance to feel them.
On the ground, he lost his sight of Vanessa and feared shed be gone by the time he opened the fate through the tall picket fence, but immediately spotted her again just as the reporter and her cameraman intercepted on the sidewalk. When he tried to skirt them. The woman blocked his path.
Hi! Im Linda Gray from channel four news. Is that your tree house?
Yeah, he answered, relieved at seeing Vanessa walking toward him.
Its very impressive. Did you build it all by yourself, or did your dad help you?
My dad helped me with the electricity. It’s the law. And y my friends helped too.
Your parents must be very proud. If it’s all right with your folks, wed like to do a story on it. Would mind giving us a tour?
Filing his thought was the question why Jessica stood smiling broadly just a foot away from him. She was so close that he could smell an intoxicating fragrance coming from her hair. Could a girl smell any better than she did right now?
A hand in the middle of his back sent him stumbling forward causing him to bump into Vanessa.
Geez, are you going to kiss her or stand here all day? Brian asked.
