I. Aside the schoolyard Two columns of one-hundred-foot spruce trees follow along a meandering creek, forming a protective border aside the school playground, trees planted a century before in the aftermath of a devastating tornado, the proud spruce now serving as a wind break aside the crop cleansed fields. The school children use branches from these trees to build forts. There is a lore about the branches, the most valuable graced by insects’ etched designs, bugs the students identify from their studies. Golden corn cobs and pine cones are trading currency for the best sticks, with which to build their forts within the protective columns of mature spruce.