14 I watched my father closely. I knew that one day it would be my turn to gently get the sap, or gum, from the trees. I wanted to do it right! I’ve watched the chicleros climb the trees as high as they can. Getting sap from the tree is a special job. A chicle- ro climbs up and makes zigzag shaped cuts in the bark. Then he places a bag at its base so that the sap fills the bag. Amazing, don’t you think? “Poppi, do the cuts hurt the trees?” “No, Marcos. They may look bad, but they’re not very deep. After this, we let the tree rest for a long time before we cut more. That way they can heal.” “How long, Poppi?” “Six or seven years.” “That is as old as I am, seven.” After my father is done cutting, I hang up a bag to collect the sap.