Sarah hesitated at the base of the tree. She glanced up with wide eyes at the familiar giant. She'd never climbed it without her brothers. Her movements were awkward at first. But as her fingers gripped the third branch and her foot found its hold, she began to flow like a dancer on stage. High above, the leaves rustled like an audience's soft applause, and beneath her, the patchwork of greens and yellows danced in the summer sun, each patch holding its own whispered tale.