Ferris and His Tree

A tree stood alone at the top of a hill. Before he realized, the young boy was on his way towards the tree. Carefully, he climbed up the grassy slope without making much noise. "Don't let me see you outside, Ferris," he remembered his mother yelling from the kitchen as he did his lessons. Even so, the day was too nice to not be exploring. For once, Mrs. Cobbler must be okay with one less child to homeschool. Greeting the wind and birds and sun along the way, Ferris finally made it to the top of the hill, where stood his favorite tree. "Hi tree!" Ferris excitedly exclaimed. "I've finally returned to climb you again." Just two weeks ago was when Ferris discovered his leafy friend about a half-mile east of his house. Keeping this tree company became Ferris' occupation, but it was a tricky job, for his mother doesn't like him leaving the house during "school time." Lots of cool things could be happening during school time, the young explorer discovered, things cooler than school. "Mom doesn't know I'm here," explained Ferris as he jumped up, grabbing ahold of a sturdy branch a few feet off of the ground. "No one does, actually," he continued while hoisting himself up, "well, except you and me." Over the sound of the wind rushing and leaves shaking, Ferris heard the chirping of a tiny blue bird. "Precisely as I expected!" he announced proudly. Quietly, he climbed up to where a small nest was built and asked the tree, "When did he hatch?" Rustling leaves answered Ferris that the lonely baby bird had hatched only that morning, or at least that's what the boy heard. "Surely his mom will come back soon." Talking about it made him sad. Unless she's dead, the momma bird always comes back, right? Very soon after this thought, Ferris heard his mother yelling from afar, "Ferris! FERRIS!!! Get home right NOW!!" "Well, that stinks," Ferris mumbled to his tree friend, while retrieving a small pocket knife from his shirt pocket and engraving something into the tree's bark. "X... There we go!" Ferris exclaimed. "You stay right here, tree, and keep an eye on the baby bird, and I'll come back later with some worms." Zooming down the hill and back home, young Ferris  began planning his new adventure as the Bird Rescuer.