That Fortune

A twelve‑year‑old boy spends a bright summer day perched atop a towering hickory, swinging high above a valley that rolls into orchards, cornfields, and a rushing river. From this lofty perch he feels the wind’s push and the forest’s quiet chatter, sharing his excitement with squirrels, chipmunks, and the occasional woodchuck. The landscape stretches far beyond his view—farmhouses, distant plateaus, and the historic wooden bridge that arches over the river—inviting him to imagine the world beyond his small town.

His adventurous spirit is matched by a budding curiosity about the stories hidden in the hills: the graves of long‑gone militia men, the old highway that once carried stage‑coaches, and the mysteries whispered by the river’s roar. As he gathers berries, crafts garlands for a schoolfriend, and watches the river flow, he begins to sense that his youthful daring may one day shape a larger destiny. The tale follows his growth from carefree climbs to the first stirrings of ambition, setting the stage for the choices that will define his future.