Herman looked up at his kite just out of reach in the big oak tree. His pale blue eyes stared at the brightly colored Superman kite hanging over the lowest branch. It was as if he was trying to will the kite to become untangled from the branch.

     He tugged it, but to no avail. He didn't want to rip it or break the balsa wood supports. Grandpa Willis has given Herman the kite for his seventh birthday only a month before and he knew Grandpa would be disappointed if he lost it the first time out. Grandpa had told him that getting the kite up in a blue sky on a day when the breezes were right was like touching the heavens. Herman liked that idea. Mama was in heaven and he thought that if he got it high enough, she might be able to reach down and touch it.

    Herman sighed deeply. He couldn't climb the oak because of the vines of poison ivy clinging to the tree trunk and no matter how hard he tried to jump, it just wasn't high enough. Herman sat down in the grass under the branch still holding the string and spool. He wanted to cry, but at seven, it would be babyish.

    He looked around for something to stand on, but all he could see was a boulder that was too large for him to move.

    "Hey! Herman! What're doin?" Herman stood up when he heard Sam's voice.

    "Come here Sammy! My kite's stuck in the tree." He hollered to Sammy who was soon standing next to Herman looking up at the kite with the big S handing over the branch.

    "Why don't ya just climb up and get it?" Sammy asked heading toward the tree trunk while biting into his chunky chocolate chip cookie.

    "Ugh uh! That's poison ivy, Sammy. It'll make ya itch till you feel all on fire!" Herman replied.

    Sammy stopped dead in his tracks a few feet from the tree trunk.

    "Gross!" Sammy replied screwing his face up and hurrying back to Herman's side. "What are ya gonna do now?"

    "Hey, maybe if you get down on all fours, I can stand on your back and reach it!"

    Herman exclaimed, excited at the prospect of getting his kite back.

    "Ahhh, I don't know, Hermy. You're a pretty big guy for seven. I don't want ya to break my back," Sammy replied. "But, I have a better idea."

    "What?" Herman asked skeptically. Sammy had really cool ideas, but they hardly ever worked out like they planned.

    "I can sit on your shoulders and grab the kite!" suggested Sammy.

    "I don't want it to get busted, Sammy. Will you be careful?" Herman asked looking stern.

    "Ah don't bust a gut. I'm not a baby. I'll be careful," Sammy said in an offended tone."
    "If you promise to be careful. Cross your heart and swear!" demanded Herman.

    "Schesch! You'd think it was worth a million bucks! Yeah! I promise and even if Ma said never to swear, I swear! Ya happy now?" Sammy asked as his hand crossed his heart not once but many times.

    "Okay. I'm gonna get on my knees and you get on my shoulders. Don't be jiggling around though cause I don't want to drop you or nothin'" Herman instructed Sammy as he knelt in the grass.Sammy got one leg over Herman's shoulder and was about to get the other on over when Sammy lost his balance and fell forward spilling them both on the ground. Sammy started laughing, but Herman pounded his fist into the grass.

    "It's not funny!" Herman yelled. "We gotta try again, but lets go over by the rock so I have something to grab onto and catch my balance."

    "Oh, alright, sourpuss!" Sammy replied brushing himself off. When they got to the rock jutting out of the ground, Herman again knelt down with both hands steadying himself on the rock. Sammy successfully climbed onto Herman's shoulders and Herman slowly stood up unsteady under Sammy's weight.

    "You're not gonna smash me into the rock and get my brains all over are ya?"Sammy asked as he clutched Herman's head.

    "I will if ya don't get your hands outta my eyes!"

    Herman clutched Sammy's legs and started toward the branch. He walked like a drunken sailor, but finally made it under the offending branch.

    "Can ya reach it, Sammy?" Herman asked pretty much out of breath from the effort and starting to break a sweat.

    "I almost can!" Sammy replied reaching up within inches of the kite.

    "Can you boost me up by my legs and get me a little higher?" Sammy asked.

    "I'll try, but you're a lot heavier than you look!" he replied as he grabbed Sammy below the knees and started to lift him up. For a moment, he almost lost his balance, but regained control.

    "I got it, Herman! I got it!" Sammy hollered triumphantly.

    "Be careful. Don't bust it!" Herman warned.

    "Just get me down. It's not busted!" Sammy demanded having had enough adventure for an afternoon.

    Sammy dropped to his knees and Sammy got off his shoulders, the Superman kite held over his head like a trophy. Herman took the kite and looked it over. It was just like new. 

    "Thanks Sammy! You're sure a great pal!" Herman said smiling from ear to ear.

    "Ah, forget it. What are friends for anyway?" Sammy replied. "Now let's go get that kite in the sky where it belongs!"

    "Yeah...we'll get it up to heaven!" Herman exclaimed as they both ran off to the clearing.

    "Maybe we'll even catch it on a star!"