I smiled and watched my baby brother he was just getting his feet, learning to walk back and forth tripping and stumbling his way along the path.
He was nearly two by now I was seven and three quarters our dad walked ahead of us keeping a close eye on us and our surroundings, I remember his words clear and well as he spoke them though I often acted disinterested I usually hung on every word he'd say.
"Melly tell me what does that sign say" his gruff voice sounded quiet and distant though I couldn't tell why, he had pointed up to a red sign the fourth one today.
I sighed and rolled my eyes while speaking " dad it's another stop sign its always the same thing give me something harder" I had adopted a whiny tone too my voice it was always a hit or miss on whether he got annoyed or amused by it but he just chuckled this time and agreed.
"alrighty you want something harder hmmm lets see".
he said scanning the surroundings, I kept a close eye on my brother who seemed keen to want to wander of in the overgrown brush and forestry to our left.
"what about that" my dad said stopping and pointing.
it was a large sign huge and stood so tall I was sure if I had stood under it is have to crane my neck all the way back just to see it.
I squinted my eyes it was far away but big enough that I was able to make out the lettering on it it took me a second but I made it out once I was confident in my answer I turned back to my dad smiling broadly as I had proudly proclaimed " it says save the trees".
"Correct" my dad exclaimed in what he called his best 'tv show host' voice.
I turned to find my brother trying to get to the plants again I just scooped him up and rested him on my right hip before trotting off after my dad again.
just as we were about to turn the bend my dad stoped so abruptly that I who was only a few places behind him smacked into his back.
I was just about to ask why we stopped when another voice popped in it wasn't my dads.
"why hello there" the stranger said loudly "what brings you here".
my dad shifted just slightly to anybody else it looked normal to me he was ready to fight which ment I had to be ready to run.
I shifted my brother so he was on my front and got him to wrap his arms and legs around me and then searched for a part of the greenery around me to run into, at this point I couldn't even see the stranger so I'm not sure if he saw me but I would be ready just like my dad taught me.