ke’s green needles the nutrients they needed to keep him alive and well. We were careful not to drown him, knowing that he would receive more water later that day. Just then, a cold drop of rain hit my neck; it sent a shiver down my spine. Grandma and I headed for shelter. Almost crashing into the short fence, I scampered up the hill on all fours. We tossed the tools back in the shed and ran into the house. Throughout my childhood, I would visit Spike as often as I visited my grandparents. I would sprawl out alongside him and attempt to arrange the many tangled thoughts in my head. Worried thoughts about upcoming exams and confused thoughts about girls were just a few of the things I pondered. Spike and his birch friends listened to my every word, or so I assured myself. I always left Birch Lake with a sense of comfort.Although my visits now are few and far between, I still go back to the lake and visit Spike when I can. Spike and I have both grown quite a bit over the years, he more so than I. He barely came up to my knee the day we met, and today I need a ladder to touch his bristly head....
