BRANCHES WITH GREEN LEAVES

My seven year old grandson believes it s important work to help repair trails I ve built through rock-strewn mountain property, even asking if we can build new ones to new places and he believes me when I tell him to hang onto branches with green leaves when he edges down a steep bank to the stream, and his eyes grow big when I tell him about the bones I found in the hollow where deer come down to drink, and when the trail back to the house gets steep, he puts his hand in mine and I know I m safe for a little while.

for Sam