Pip Climbs the Apple Tree

The sun is low behind Peach’s cottage. A bee buzzes near the lavender. Presa lies on the warm path with his eyes closed.

Peach pulls a weed from beside the apple tree. She shakes the earth from its roots and drops it into her bucket.

One of the chickens hurries over to look.

“Nothing for you in there,” says Peach. “Off you go.”

The chicken pecks at her boot instead.

And Pip? Pip is watching something above Peach’s head.

A leaf shakes. Then another leaf shakes too. Pip sits up straight. His ears twitch.

There is something in the apple tree.

Pip walks around the trunk, looking up through the leaves. He tries the other side, but he still cannot see what is moving.

Pip puts his front paws against the bark and stretches. His claws grip the tree.

Up he goes!

His back paws follow his front paws. In a moment, he is standing on the lowest branch.

Peach turns around. “Well, look at you.”

Pip walks along the branch. A leaf brushes his nose. He gives it a quick tap.

The leaf springs back and taps him too.

Pip blinks with surprise.

Below him, Presa opens one eye. Then he closes it again.

There is another rustle above Pip. He leaves the leaf alone and climbs to the next branch.

One paw. Then another.

Now he can see over Peach’s head. He can see into her bucket. He can even see the chicken pecking on the other side of the fence.

But what is making that sound?

Pip climbs a little higher.

There it is!

A small bird sits among the leaves. It turns its head and looks at him.

Pip goes very still. His tail gives a tiny twitch.

The bird hops along a twig. Pip takes one step.

Before he can take another, the bird spreads its wings. Away it flies, over the fence and out of sight.

Pip stretches his neck to watch it go.

Pip sniffs an apple beside him and gives it a little tap with his nose.

The apple swings on its stalk. Down below, Peach picks up her bucket.

“Come along, Pip. Time to go and make dinner.”

Pip turns towards the trunk. He looks down.

Oh no.

The path is a long way below him.

Presa looks smaller from up here. So does Peach.

Pip puts one front paw over the edge of the branch.

Then he pulls it back.

He tries on the other side. There is nothing close enough for his paw to reach.

Pip crouches low. “Meow.”

Peach puts down her bucket. “What’s the matter?”

Pip looks at her and meows again. This time, Presa opens both eyes.

Peach walks over to the tree. Pip is too high for her to reach, but she can see a wide branch just below him, close to the trunk.

“Oh, Pip. Coming down is a bit different, isn’t it?”

Presa gets up and stands beside her. He tips his head back to look at Pip.

Pip leans forward. His claws hold tight. A few dry bits of bark drop onto Presa’s nose.

Presa sneezes. Pip flinches and grips the branch tighter.

“Bless you, Presa,” says Peach. She rests a hand on his head. “Let’s give him a little room.”

Presa moves beside the tree and lies down. He keeps his eyes on Pip.

Peach stays close. “Take your time,” she says. “One little step at a time.”

Pip looks down at Presa. Then he looks towards the end of his branch.

The branch gets thinner towards the end.

He turns back towards the trunk.

Here, the branch is wide. There is room to turn around. Pip faces the trunk and starts to climb down backwards.

He holds on with his front claws and lowers one back paw.

His paw brushes the bark. He stretches a little further until he feels the branch below. He rests his paw on it and holds still.

“That’s it,” says Peach softly.

He moves his other back paw down beside the first. Then, carefully, he brings his front paws down too.

All four paws are on the lower branch.

One paw. One branch.

Pip sits close to the trunk and curls his tail around his paws. Peach is a little closer now.

She waits while he looks around.

The chicken comes back to the bucket and pecks at the handle. The handle drops against the side with a clink.

Pip’s ears turn towards the sound.

Peach moves the bucket out of the way. “Not now, chicken.”

Presa watches the chicken go. Then he looks up at Pip again.

Pip stands up again. He stays close to the trunk and carefully turns around.

One back paw reaches down. Then the other. His front paws follow.

One paw. One branch.

Now Peach’s hand is close enough for him to sniff. He touches it with his nose.

“Hello, you,” she says.

He is on the lowest branch now.

Pip pauses once more. Presa lies nearby, with his front paws stretched out on the grass.

Pip crouches, ready to jump. Then he pushes off—and all four paws land on the grass.

“There he is!”

Presa gets up and gives Pip a gentle sniff on the head. Pip rubs his cheek against Presa’s front leg, then brushes past him with his tail held high.

Peach crouches beside them and strokes Pip’s back. “That’s quite enough climbing for one day.”

Pip sits down and licks one paw. Then he licks the other.

Presa settles on the grass. Pip walks between his big front paws, turns around twice and curls up.

Peach carries her bucket to the shed. When she comes back, Pip’s eyes are closing.

Soon she brings out her tea and a biscuit for Presa, then settles into her garden chair. “Dinner can wait a few minutes,” she says.

Crunch, crunch.

Pip opens his eyes at the sound. He stretches, leaves Presa’s paws and comes over to Peach’s chair.

She pats her lap. “Come on then, little one.”

Pip climbs up, tucks his paws beneath him and begins to purr.

Above them, the leaves rustle again. One of Pip’s ears twitches.

But this time, he stays exactly where he is.

And remember... You are kind. You are brave. You are loved.