I slept until it seems late morning. With no money, and an empty stomach, I double checked that everything I owned was in my bag, and grabbed my umbrella to leave. I held it over my head in hopes to somewhat block the burning sun that shined on this cloudless day, and I walked into the busy New Orleans streets.

I noticed that people looked at me strangely, particularly my dress, and looked down to see what was wrong. I was covered in soot and sediment from the dark, damp alleyway that I had slept in. I quickly brushed as much of it off as possible, and I walked until I saw a gate. The sign above it said 'Welcome to New Orleans's Park'. So, I went inside, hoping for it not to be overly busy.

To my demise, the park was packed. Every bench, every swing set, every playground step. All except the trees. I don't know how to climb a tree,  but it always looked easy when I saw other people doing it. 

This may be a stupid idea, I thought, but today I'm being irrational, so might as well try this.

I spent at least two hours trying to climb up this tree, and successfully falling down afterwards. Nearly in tears, I tried and tried again, until finally, after three hours at least of nonstop tree falling, I made it to the middle branches, the ones that support my weight the best.

I double checked my satchel to make sure nobody got to anything, and nothing fell out. So, after I made sure that all of my books were safe, I laid back, and slowly fell asleep. All the pain washed away when the world turned black.

A small child awoke me. A girl, it seems, who had also climbed the tree. Probably curious as to why a teenage girl was sleeping in a tree.

"Here, let me help you down! I'm Claire, by the way!" she said. Already giving me her name? Claire had to much trust in a teenager.

So, she helped me down, and told me that she would be here again tomorrow, if I wanted to come. I said sure, and went back to my alleyway. I was sore, but somehow I made it and fell asleep.