Chapters 5 and 6

Chapter 5...The Old, Old Tree:

Sam chose this old, old tree knowing that he didn't want to be seen and that this tree would be a good home hidden from people. He circled the tree, trying to figure out how it would be home. The branches were too high up and not right for a tree house. He thought of making a bark extention but then figured it would look too wierd. As he continued circling it, he saw it. Part of the tree's roots were sticking out, and the heart of the tree was alreay partly decayed.
Right then, Sam knew that that was going to be his home. He started chopping away the decayed wood. At first it was easy, until he got to where the tree was no longer decayed. He didn't plan that well those days. He would chop and chop until he was near starving but would then be too tired to go look for food. Finally, Sam got the tree to where he could stand in it and lay down without his feet sticking out (that must be one big, fat tree!).

Chapter 6...I Meet One Of My Own Kind:

Sam was getting used to be alone now. So used to, that when he heard another person's voice it scared him. He is shocked when he meets an old lady one day. He soon discovers that she comes up yearly before winter to pick strawberries from the strawberry bushes somewhere on the mountain. She asked Sam to help her. Sam was horrified as he watched her pick "his" strawberries. It was one of his main food sources and was supposed to be a big help during winter. Hardly any were left when she was done. Sam walked her home and was about to turn around when she asked him where he was going and that he should be heading home. She asked him where he lived, and in response said Delhi not wanting her to turn him in to the police if she found out he was a runnaway.
At Delhi, Sam decided to stop by at the library and visit that nice librarian he met early. He looked at some books on plants and falcons (he saw one while picking strawberries). He planned to tame one and train it to hunt for him. He took notes on a piece of paper and talked to the librarian. She was thrilled to hear that he found Gribley's Farm. Before he left she leaned over and whispered to him, "Sam, you need a haircut." Sam hadn't seen himself in a long time. Since he didn't have a pair of scissors to cut his own hair the librarian did for him. And according to him she did a fine job.

MY COMMENTS ON THESE CHAPTERS...

My opinion on these chapters is that he doesn't own anything on that mountain except what he either brought or made. I think he is forgetting that there are other people and things who also like some food from the land. I predict that Sam will become friends with a falcon but not beable to capture it or train it. I also predict that the strawberry lady might tell a few people and they tell a few people and eventually get around to Sam's father. I think it was smart of Sam to say he was going to Delhi and used his time wisely by going to the library to get some more information. Questions I am thinking/wondering: What tree in this world can be 6 feet in diameter?! (Sam mentioned that in chapter 5). Now that I think of it, what did or is Sam going to spend his $40 on? and Why did Sam think that those wild strawberries were his? I'm not sure if some of these questions will be answered in this book because they are more of a thought or looking type question I guess. I hope, though, that the book will answer my last question.