The taste of clouds

Deep in the forest, there was a family of fluffy red squirrels. Their cheeks puffed like marshmallow with their tails even more so. In fact they were so fluffy, that they couldn't climb trees like all the all other squirrels. There was a mama squirrel, a papa squirrel, and two brothers named Andy and David. They all lived at the bottom of the great big oak tree. The tree was so tall and so wide that it was the envy of all ground critters. It was rumored that the tree could shake hands with the clouds above.

One day, David and Andy where playing about the forest and David looked up to the sky. It was sprinkled with white fluffy clouds.
“I wonder what they taste like”, David said in awe.
“You know we can't get up there”, Andy cautioned.
“Says who?”, David said now teasing.
“Mama. You know how she is about climbing our tree. And besides, no squirrel has been able to climb it without getting really dizzy.”Andy knew how much David loved climbing. His thick fur made it difficult for him to do so, but he saw it as a challenge. Andy knew what would come next.
“Oh ho ho ho! You worry to much! I've climbed every tree around and I've never been hurt! I'm going to climb the Great Oak Tree and get a taste of those clouds. And if you're lucky, I might save you some.”

David dashed across up the tree with lighting in his paws. He climbed, and climbed, and climbed and climbed to the very tippy top. When he got to the top he could not believe what he saw. The sky was the deepest shade of blue, he can see the entire forest for miles, and even the air had a crisp minty taste to it. The little squirrel was amazed that all this time he never discovered this hidden gem. And then he saw it. A white fluffy cloud touching brushing against the tip of the branch. David slowly approached the cloud afraid that it would get scared and run away. He moved slowly. Ever so slowly . He was now face to face to the big white cloud and took the biggest bite he could. “This doesn't taste like anything! You don't even smell like anything either!” David exclaimed. His tail sagged and cheeks drooped. Disappointed that the cloud that he wanted for so long wasn't what he imagined, but then smiled to himself. He found the most beautiful place in all of the forest, and could not wait to tell his brother about it.

David climbed down to to the base of the tree to see his mother waiting for him. She was furious with David. So much so that her raving could be heard for miles. “HOW COULD YOU DO SOMETHING SO RECKLESS! WHAT IF SOMETHING TRIED TO EAT YOU WHILE YOU WERE UP THERE?!? WHAT IF YOU FELL FROM THERE?!?”

“Bu- but mama there was nothing dangerous there. In fact it was-”. WHACK! David fell with a loud thud. Mama was not pleased with him at all.

“Don't you talk back to me!” The mother growled. “I don't want you to ever climb this tree. In fact, any tree at all! Now go to your room.”

David did what he was told. He became very very sad. He didn't even had a chance to tell anyone what he saw, and now banned from the one thing he loved doing. He thought it was unfair, and felt that he could not talk to anyone in the family about it. He lost his will to climb trees and eventually became like the rest of his family.

Snow fell, flowers bloomed, and the sun smiled on the forest several times over. One day, David, Andy, and Dad where harvesting acorns and nuts while Mama was gossiping with her friends. Andy stared into the sky to see if any nuts would fall from the trees, and then a thought occurred to him. “David, do you remember the time you climbed to the top of the oak tree?” David turned to him puzzled that he would bring it up.
“Yeah... What about it?” David said as dull as a stone.
“What was it like up there?”
Remembering that day brought a smile to his face. A smile that hasn't visited him for quite some time. “It was the most beautiful place that you can imagine. The sky was so blue and the air was fresher than a mint.” David then furrowed his brow and became cautious of what he said next “Why do you want to know that now?”

“I want to know a cloud taste like” Andy said.
“Well a cloud do-” Andy cut David off.
“No I want to taste it for myself.” Andy urged his brother.
“Andy you know as much as I do how mama is about climbing her tree.” David said with a hint of sadness.

Their father overheard the entire thing and came with his stash of food in tow. He got them really close and said “Well mama's not here now is she?”. Andy and David both look at Dad with shock. He never has done anything behind Mama's back.

“Does that mean...?” They both said wide eyed.

“Mhm. I want to know what clouds taste like too.” Dad joked. “Com' on let's see what's up there!” David and Andy raced to the oak tree while Dad trotted behind them. David started to climb and but his arms felt like noodles. He grew so big that it was hard to pull himself up any more.

David pouted, “Dad I don't think that I can do it any more. I'm too big”.
Dad being bigger than him looked at David like he said something silly. “Nonsense son. I know you can do it, because I can do it and you are half of me. Now watch very closely” Dad hugged as much of the tree as he could. He then pushed with all of his might with his feet and rocketed up the first branch. “Now you try.”

David tried to imitate his father. He launched himself a little bit up the tree, then again, then again, then again. David now was suddenly with his father. He was ecstatic that he could still climb. “Dad I did it!”

“I knew you could. You just needed to know you could do it.” Dad then looked down towards Andy “Com'on are you just going to stand there? You were the one that wanted to see the top of this tree.” He teased. Andy then climbed like his father and now they were all were on the branch.

Andy and David were really excited that both of them are climbing with their Dad. The raced towards the sky making leaps from tree to branch to tree again. It took them a while to reach the top with having to take small stops in between to catch their breath. Each piece of bark they climbed they could see the sky line a bit clearer.

The three of them, now exhausted from the climb, reach the top of the tree. The wind blew ever so gently against their fluffy coats as they sat and watched the sun set. The hint of mint wafted their noses as they waited for a cloud to pass. “So this is it huh?” Dad chimed in.

“Yup, isn't is beautiful?” David said.

“Sure is son, sure is.” Dad stretched his arms out bringing his sons closer to him. “I think that's why she wanted this tree so bad. Too bad mama wasn't much of a climber. She could have enjoyed this too.”

Andy and David both turn towards Dad puzzled. David piped up “Then why she wanted this tree anyway?”

Dad hesitated a bit and answered, “Well lets just say she prefers to have nice things rather than enjoying them.” Both of them became even more confused, but then a white fluffy cloud took all their attention away.

“Hey it's coming for us!” Andy shouted. “How do we eat it?”

David chuckled and said “Well first you need to open your mouth really wide like this.” He then stretched his mouth to it's absolute limit. Andy and Dad imitated David as the cloud passed though them. The all three clenched their teeth like they were eating an apple. Andy tilted his head back and forward as if he was on rocking chair.

“What is this taste? It doesn't taste like anything I've ever tasted before!” said Andy.

“Its called a cloud Andy. It suppose to taste like that.” David said trying to hold back a laugh but the wall of seriousness came tumbling down. All three burst in laughter. None of them could really taste anything in the clouds that passed by, but that didn't matter. The time they spent on top of the tree was something they could savor for as long as they lived.