Finding Handholds
J. Robert King

The beginning places the character in the setting. Wow,” said Reggie. He stood in a sandy wash in Tucson, Arizona, staring at a huge palo verde tree. Its gnarled roots sank deep in the sand, and its twisted trunk rose ten feet up before green boughs spread in blue heavens.

Reggie wasn’t looking at that glorious tangle of branches, but at the magnificent tree house they held. A wide main floor nestled in the crotch, with wooden half walls and lookout points. A narrow ladder rose from it to a second floor platform. And climbing freehand, one could reach the lofty crow’s nest.

Reggie has a problem: how to climb into the tree fort. Theoretically.

It was not a tree house for third graders like Reggie, but rather for sixth graders, like his brother, Al.

“Can you please just show me how to climb up?” Reggie had asked Al yesterday. They stared at that towering trunk. It had no rope, no ladder, not even boards nailed to it.

Dialogue between characters moves the plot along. “It’s not for little kids,” Al answered.

“Just show me,” Reggie begged.

Al scowled. “I’ll tell you just this: It’s all about finding handholds.”

Now Reggie strode across the sand, determined to find handholds.

The tree-fort floated high above. It looked like it hung in the clouds.

“Focus,” Reggie said, taking a trembling breath. “Where can I grab?”

Reggie struggles to solve his problem. He studied the smooth green bark, noticing a shallow, bowl-shaped scar where a branch had been cut off. Reggie slid his fingers into the spot and tugged. “This might be something.” Looking down, he saw a tiny foothold. Reggie pulled himself up and looked for the next spot. There was a wrinkle of bark just within reach of his other hand. Finding another narrow toehold, he climbed shakily upward.

Suspense builds as Reggie gets closer to his goal. Three feet . . . five feet . . . seven feet . . . nine feet. “Sheesh!” he gasped. “Don’t look down!” Too late.

Panting, Reggie scrambled into the dark crotch of the tree. Joists and floorboards ran overhead. “What now?” He pushed upward, trying to find a way up. Instead, he found a few odd nails poking down. “Ow! Maybe I should just give up.” The climax shows Reggie succeed. Then suddenly—pop! A secret hatch opened. Reggie climbed through it to stand in the tree fort.

“What a view!” He could see all the way up the wash to Shadow Mountain, and over the rooftops to his home.

The ending shows how Reggie changed. “Hey, Reggie! Can I come up?”

Reggie looked down to see his little sister, Karen. He scowled and opened his mouth to say, “It’s not for little kids.” Instead, he heard himself say, “It’s all about finding handholds.”