Vidalia children form friendship in a tree

Published 12:09 am Monday, October 5, 2009

NATCHEZ — They are all second-graders at Vidalia Lower Elementary School. They all live on Magnolia Street in Vidalia. And they are all best friends.

When the dart landed on Magnolia Street on Saturday, Landon Davis, Kezlie Martin and Mattie Tyson were doing what they do best — playing outside.

The trio play together just about every day, 7-year-old Landon said.

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“We ride bikes, climb trees and swing,” he said. “Those are our favorite.”

Climbing trees is a favorite for them all, but they sometimes have different trees they like to climb.

“That one is my favorite,” Kezlie,7, said pointing to one across the street. “But it isn’t big enough for all of us.”

The tree that is big enough for all of them is right in front of Landon’s house.

“We all can climb this one,” Mattie,8, said demonstrating how she gets started. “We taught ourselves how to do it.”

Demonstrating their abilities, the trio all scale the tree, Landon to the left; Mattie in the center and Kezlie on the right.

Stopping about halfway up, Landon said they like that tree because they can spread out and climb different parts.

“We each have a side on this tree so we don’t have to wait for someone else to come down,” he said.

Continuing up the tree, Kezlie and Mattie find spots to perch on a couple of higher branches.

“We each have a special place,” Kezlie said. “Sometimes we go too high.”

When they aren’t high in the tree, the group can be found on the ground finding other ways to burn off their seemingly endless energy.

“I can do a cartwheel. Do you want to see,” Kezlie said. “My legs are straight in the air.

“Maybe I’ll be a gymnastics teacher. I can do the splits, too.”

Not wanting to be outdone, Landon shows off his acrobatics too.

“I can jump and do a cartwheel,” he said before flipping himself head over heels.

Mattie said she doesn’t care too much for gymnastics, although she also demonstrates her cartwheel. She said she is more of a singer.

“I’m a good singer. I’ll probably be a singer when I grow up,” she said. “Beyonce is my favorite.”

They don’t even like to go inside when it rains, Mattie said.

“We play in the rain as long as we don’t get sick,” she said.

If it is raining too hard for them to get outside, the trio usually ends up inside at Landon’s house painting, coloring or drawing.

Landon said he has a talent for art and might want to pursue that as a career when he’s older.

“I like to paint and draw animals and ponds and stuff,” he said. “I think I’ll be an artist or maybe I’ll ride dirt bikes.”

The trio of friends have a while before they have to worry about their final career choice. Until then, they said they will just play.

“We are pretty much best friends,” Landon said. “We don’t really ever get tired of each other.”