“Or maybe there should be no pets at all,” Mrs. Leary said, looking around the room.
“But you have three cats!” Debra Williams exclaimed. Mrs. Williams was Ashley’s mom. They had a poodle named Puddles.
“Oh, I’m not talking about cats. I’m talking about other pests. I mean, pets.” Mrs. Leary looked a bit flustered. I sucked in my cheeks again, but this time I couldn’t stop the corners of my lips from moving upward. This was too funny! I couldn’t wait to tell Sarah!
“But cats are pets.”
“I mean dogs! They are the ones that are making doo-doo all over my lawn!”
“So,” Ms. Matheson said slowly, “you would like to propose a bylaw that limits the number of dogs per unit?”
“Yes! Limit the number of dogs. Or ban them altogether. That would take care of the doo-doo and the barking. Sometimes the barking keeps me up at night.”
“All right, Mrs. Leary, I think the council understands your concerns. We will discuss the matter further. Thank you for coming.” Ms. Matheson said this quite firmly, using what was probably her best principal voice.
Mrs. Leary persisted. “But really, we need more bylaws. And we need to increase the fines given to Cedar Grove residents who break the rules.”
“We already have the highest fines allowed by the Neighborhood Act,” Mrs. Williams said.
“It’s two fifty for the first infraction and five twenty-five for the second. Units in debt to the Cedar Grove Neighborhood Corporation can be forced into foreclosure,” said one of the council members who had been silent until now. “That’s a pretty stiff penalty, if you ask me.”
I didn’t understand all that, but it sounded similar to what Ethan had said. He’s a smart guy.
“Well, something more has to be done.” Mrs. Leary didn’t seem to understand either.
“As I said, we’ll discuss your concerns at a later date. Right now, we need to move on to the next item on our agenda.”
Mrs. Leary frowned and then rose awkwardly from the table. I guess she realized that she had no choice. But she took forever putting on her coat and scarf and gloves. She had a ridiculous amount of clothing, considering the weather and the fact that she only had to walk a couple of steps to her front door.
When Mrs. Leary was finally gone, Ms. Matheson turned to me. “The second item on the agenda is in regard to interim bylaw 47.21. I’d like to introduce Brianna Bridges, Unit 83, who has asked for an opportunity to address the council on this matter.”
My heart was suddenly racing. During Mrs. Leary’s performance, I had forgotten why I was here. I wasn’t ready for this!
My throat was dry. I didn’t know what to do. Everyone was looking at me. “Do I need to stand up or something?” I asked, absentmindedly running my hand along the leg of my jeans. Even though my jeans were clean, the words Bree, Bree, crappy capri floated through my head.
“No, that won’t be necessary, Brianna. Just speak loudly so everyone can hear what you have to say.”
Speak loudly? I could hardly even breathe.
Chapter 6
I took a deep breath. And another. My heart felt like the Energizer Bunny’s drum. Everyone was staring at me. I had to speak. Silence was bad.
I glanced at my notes.
1. Tree climbing is good for kids because it is mentally stimulating. Finding your way up a tree is like solving a puzzle.
2. Tree climbing is good exercise. It provides a thorough workout for the arms, legs and spine. It also enhances flexibility and coordination.
3. There are all kinds of studies showing that kids are not getting enough exercise.
4. Parents like it when their kids climb trees because it is free. And they don’t have to drive them anywhere.
5. Our principal, Mr. Lee, is always saying that kids need to spend more time outside appreciating nature.
6. You cannot climb trees inside.
7. Tree climbing is very safe.
Some of these ideas came from the tree-climbing website. Some of them came from a brainstorming session I had with Sarah. I added the part about Mr. Lee to impress Ms. Matheson. I figured she was more likely to listen to another school principal than she was to me.
“Well, I, um…” My throat was really dry. I looked at Mrs. Leary’s empty seat and said the first thing that came to mind. “Thank you for inviting me to come.”
My heart was still thumping away. I was sure everyone in the room could hear it. But I went on anyway. “I’d like the council to reconsider the bylaw against tree climbing.”
“Go on,” Ms. Matheson prodded.
“I, well, I don’t think it’s necessary.”
“The council created the bylaw because we felt that tree climbing was putting the children of Cedar Grove at risk.” Ms. Matheson looked around the table as she said this.
This wasn’t going the way I had hoped. I looked at my notes again. Then I took another deep breath and said, “But I would like you, and, um, the council to consider some of the many ways that tree climbing is a healthy activity for kids to be involved in.” It was my turn to look around the table. To my surprise, some of the council members were nodding. Mr. Morrow was even smiling at me encouragingly.
That’s when things started to get better. Eventually, my heart stopped pounding and I started breathing normally. I didn’t follow my notes exactly. But I think I covered everything.
I went over the last point—tree climbing is safe— really quickly. Obviously, safety was the main issue. But I really didn’t know how to convince the council that tree climbing wasn’t dangerous. Except to compare it to something really, really dangerous like motorcycle racing or skydiving. But I didn’t think it would be a good idea to start associating tree climbing with those kinds of sports.
After finding out about Ethan’s fall, I’d done some more research online, specifically about safety. I’d found some conflicting information. Although there was nothing about townhouse complexes, I had learned that tree climbing was banned in a lot of school playgrounds across North America. There was even an interview with an American pta member who described tree climbing as a “life threatening activity” responsible for over 140 deaths per year. I wasn’t about to tell the council that.
The TCI website didn’t have any useful suggestions on its safety page either. It just said stuff like, Stay on a rope, wear the right gear, get training from a qualified instructor and never forget the fall. Most of these suggestions didn’t even apply to backyard tree climbing. I mean, the trees in Cedar Grove aren’t that big. And I certainly wasn’t going to talk about the fall. That would be bad.
I definitely didn’t want Ms. Matheson to start thinking about Ethan’s fall. I figured it would be game over if that happened. Truth was, although I’d had a few minor injuries from tree climbing, I’d never considered it dangerous. But what if Ethan had really been hurt? Would that have changed the way I felt about it? Could Ashley and everyone else be right about tree climbing—was it really that dangerous?
I was done in less than five minutes, but it felt like forever. When I finished talking, Ms. Matheson thanked me again for coming. “We’ll take your points into consideration.”
“But…” I felt like things weren’t complete, like I needed to say more. I wanted to scream, It’s not fair! I love climbing trees. I’m not a grouchy old lady like Mrs. Leary! Please take me seriously!
“I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave now, Brianna”—Ms. Matheson frowned at me—“so we can get on with the rest of the meeting.”
“But what about the bylaw? Can it be overturned?” I wasn’t feeling nervous anymore. Not at all. Just desperate for the council to see things my way.
“As I said before, the bylaw was put in place because the council thinks that tree climbing is putting the children of Cedar Grove at risk. We chose not to delay the decision until the Annual General Meeting because we’re worried that someone will get hurt trying to climb as high and as far as you do. You do not set the
best example, Brianna.” Ms. Matheson stopped suddenly and glanced at the other council members. Then she continued, “There will be further discussion based on your input. We will let you know when a decision has been made.”
I didn’t say anything as I stood up to leave. I heard mumbling around the table about the AGM and ratification, but I was too upset to really listen.
You do not set the best example, Brianna. Ms. Matheson’s words turned my desperation into a pot of anger that was dangerously close to boiling over.
It wasn’t fair. Kids have to put up with too many rules. I was sick of the Cedar Grove Neighborhood Council and their stupid bylaws.
Chapter 7
A couple of days after the meeting, I came home from school to find Tyler and Michael playing basketball in front of Tyler’s garage. I tried to walk by quickly, but there was really no way to avoid them. I couldn’t reach the front door of my house without walking right under their net.
As soon as he saw me, Tyler said, “Did you hear the news, Bree?” He had a big smirk on his face.
“They’re finally going to fumigate your townhouse? To get rid of the big creepy bug that’s pestering the good people of Cedar Grove?”
“Funny.” Tyler wasn’t laughing, but I heard Michael chuckle. “Your meeting with the council was a waste of time, Bree. They’re not changing the tree-climbing bylaw.”
“What? How do you know?” I felt my cheeks flush with anger.
“I’ve got my sources,” Tyler said smugly.
“Sorry, Bree,” said a voice behind me. I turned and saw Ethan sitting on his front steps. He was still on the sidelines. I looked at his hurt elbow, even though I knew there was nothing to see.
“It’s true?” I asked him.
“Mom said that the council took your arguments into consideration, but the interim bylaw remains in effect.”
“Interim?” I couldn’t understand why everyone kept using that word. Wasn’t a bylaw just a bylaw?
“It has be called an interim bylaw until it gets voted on and passed at the AGM.”
“Did your mom tell you why they couldn’t just overturn it?”
“She wouldn’t go into detail, but I think there might be legal issues,” Ethan said.
“Who cares about legal issues? We’re kids. We should be able to climb trees!” I snapped.
“The council has to care about legal issues and they still think tree climbing is dangerous.”
“But it’s not!”
I had been thinking a lot about safety since my presentation. I knew I hadn’t done a good job convincing the council that tree climbing was safe. I guess Ethan’s injury and the stuff I’d found on the Internet had momentarily given me some doubts.
“Tree climbing is no more dangerous than basketball,” I said, pointing at the net. “Any sport is dangerous if you don’t do it properly.”
I was certain of my argument now, but unfortunately, I was using it on Ethan, who was only trying to be helpful. I was just so mad at myself for not making a stronger case to the Neighborhood Council.
Tyler and Michael were staring at me. “It doesn’t really matter whether it’s dangerous or not,” Tyler said calmly. “Point is, there will never be tree climbing in Cedar Grove again. And it doesn’t matter what you do. Give it up, Bree. You’re not the boss around here.”
“Neither are you!” I stared back at Tyler and narrowed my eyes. “And this means you can’t climb either.”
“So what?” Tyler shrugged and took a shot at the net. The basketball swished through the hoop. “There are other things to do.”
“But you can’t climb trees,” I repeated.
“The monkey bars at the playground are pretty good,” Michael said.
“But that’s not good enough for little Brianna,” Tyler said in a silly crybaby voice.
“You’re just jealous because you’re not as good a climber as me!” I spit the words at him. I could feel the back of my throat start to burn and I bit my cheeks to hold back the tears.
“Me? Jealous of you? Before the council destroyed the jungle gym, I beat you in every climbing competition we ever had.”
“You’ve never beat me up a tree!” I shot back.
I saw him wince briefly. Then he wound up and fired at me again. “I certainly beat you on the pitcher’s mound.”
It was my turn to wince. The competition between Tyler and me started in the spring of grade four when we’d both tried out to pitch for the Bulldogs, our local Little League baseball team. We were pretty evenly matched back then, so it took the Bulldogs’ coach all preseason to select the starting pitcher. Losing out to Tyler hadn’t bothered me much back then. I was just happy to be part of the team. But Tyler was upset even though he’d won. Dad said it was because a girl who was almost a full year younger than him had come so close to stealing his position. All I know is that the rivalry between us had been fierce ever since.
“Why do you like climbing trees so much anyway, Bree?” Ethan asked, probably hoping to end the fight between Tyler and me. Everyone knows Ethan is a kid who doesn’t like conflict.
I took a few breaths to calm myself down. Crying would be bad. “It’s fun,” I said as I looked up, “and it makes me feel free.” As much as I liked playing with all the other kids in Cedar Grove, sometimes I liked to get away from them too. Up in the trees I could be alone. In my own little world.
“Well, say goodbye to freedom, Bree,” Tyler said, snapping me back to reality.
“Come on, Tyler,” Michael said, bouncing the basketball. “Let’s finish this game.”
Michael isn’t sensitive like Ethan. But I noticed that he sometimes got caught between pleasing Tyler and saying what he really wanted to say. Honestly, I wondered why Michael put up with Tyler at all.
Tyler turned toward the net and took a pass from Michael. I gave Ethan an apologetic smile even though I was still angry. This whole mess wasn’t his fault.
Without saying goodbye, I headed over to the big collection of metal mailboxes that line the entry to Cedar Grove. I opened up our little slot with the key I’d convinced Mom to give me since she was never home early enough to get the mail herself. I pulled out a stack of envelopes and flyers, instantly spotting the notice from the Cedar Grove Neighborhood Council even though it was at the bottom of the pile. No one else used paper the color of pee.
I didn’t unfold the notice until Dad came home. I was afraid to read it. I didn’t want Tyler and Ethan’s story confirmed.
When Dad handed me the notice I was ready to be disappointed. But I wasn’t prepared for another shock.
Dear Resident of Cedar Grove,
This notice is to serve as a reminder of Cedar Grove bylaw 5.12.
Bylaw 5.12: A pet owner must ensure that a permitted pet is kept quiet, controlled and clean. Any excrement on common property must be immediately disposed of by the person supervising the pet.
The Neighborhood Council appreciates the effort of each individual resident in making Cedar Grove a clean and pleasant place to live.
Sincerely,
Cedar Grove Neighborhood Council
The Council had listened to Mrs. Leary! They’d even sent out a notice. But they had totally ignored me. They weren’t even considerate enough to inform me of their decision. I only knew the neighborhood council wasn’t changing the tree-climbing bylaw because Marion Matheson had blabbed to her son. And Ethan had spread the news to everyone, including Tyler.
I crumpled the notice into a ball and threw it toward Dad, who was flipping through the rest of the mail.
“I hate Cedar Grove!” I growled.
“I’m sorry, Bree,” Dad said. I could barely hear him through the rush of blood to my head. I was too angry to answer. I stomped up to my room, hoping that everyone in the townhouse complex could hear each step.
Chapter 8
I wasn’t about to give up. But I wasn’t going to the Neighborhood Council again. What a waste of time. I had to come up with a better idea.
Dad kept telling me there would be other trees to climb. He said he would take us on a big camping trip in the summer. Somewhere up past Whistler, where there are tons of trees in every shape and size. “They’ll be perfect for climbing,” he promised and then added, “as long as a bear doesn’t get there first.” As soon as I heard that, I knew Mom would never let us go.
Sarah thought I should ignore the bylaw and climb the trees in Cedar Grove. “Just don’t let them catch you.” Sarah could get away with doing things like that. Not me. I had one of those faces that everyone could read like a book. The minute I climbed a tree, everyone would know it.
A better idea finally came to me two weeks later. I was sitting in class, trying not to be distracted by the sun streaming in through the window above my desk. The days were getting longer and longer, and it was finally warm enough to shed some layers of Gore-Tex and Polarfleece. Short sleeves would come next. I couldn’t imagine summer without tree climbing in Cedar Grove.
Our social studies teacher, Mr. Vandermeer, was talking about Clayoquot Sound, an area on Vancouver Island that’s famous for its old-growth trees. The pictures of the trees were interesting (they had massive trunks that looked as if they would be difficult to climb) and so was the story of a huge protest that happened there in 1993.
In one picture a group of people were standing around a small pickup truck parked across a dirt road. In the background I could see huge trucks and other tree-destroying machines. According to Mr. Vandermeer, some of the protesters actually chained themselves to the trees to stop those machines from doing their work.
Trouble in the Trees Page 3