Jenny looked at me in that strange way of hers.

“Tristan, do you really think this’ll work?â€? she says, squeaky voice doing its job all by itself, without any help from her puppy dog expression.

“Um, yeah. I made it, didn’t I?â€? I didn’t exactly sound so sure of myself.

“All right,â€? she said, worried.

We started across the bridge, step by step, little by little. She made it across first, teasingly leaning at me as I wobbled over the wooden planks. “C’mon, Tristan . . . .â€?

I “accidentallyâ€? stumbled across the last few boards and tumbled into her. She laughed and tried to get away, but I grabbed at her and tickled her stomach, so much that she nearly cried from laughter.

We calmed down and gazed up at the trees encircling our heads above. A small crunch came from her side, the sound of dead leaves crackling.

I looked over. She was getting up. “Jenny?” I said, hoisting myself into an upright position.

She looked at me, bit her lip, and suddenly burst into tears.