Archibald had invited Emilio to tea…
“Just come up whenever you like!” he’d said, pointing to a nest high in the branches of an enormous oak tree.
Emilio looked up. It was a very long way.
“No problem!” he said. “I’ve got this!”
He put one of his big front feet on the trunk, then the other. His two little belly feet scrabbled for something to hold on to, while his three back legs pushed in three different directions. For a moment he seemed to be making progress.
Then he fell over backwards.
Archie bounced excitedly on a branch above.
“Need a hand?”
“No thanks! Nearly got it!”
Emilio tried again, starting with his back legs this time. He got two of them onto the trunk, but the third became tangled with a belly foot, and one of his front legs somehow ended up underneath him.
Archie fluttered down, pushed a fallen log against the trunk and immediately sprang back into the tree.
Emilio climbed onto the log.
“Ha! That’s better!”
While Emilio was busy sorting out which foot to move next, Archie bounced along a higher branch and pulled it down until it was within reach.
Emilio grabbed it and hauled himself up.
“Getting the hang of this!”
Archie flew ahead, bending branches, shifting loose twigs and occasionally giving Emilio’s bottom a discreet shove. Once he had to catch Emilio by a back foot when all seven legs lost their grip at the same time.
Emilio climbed higher and higher, growing more delighted with every successful step.
“I think I’m a natural!”
At last, he hauled himself over the edge of the nest and collapsed into a pile of soft leaves.
Archie landed beside him, still bouncing slightly.
“Made it!” Emilio announced proudly.
“You certainly did,” said Archie, pouring the tea.
Emilio took a sip and looked out over the forest. The view was magnificent.
“Same time tomorrow?” Archie asked.
