26 Each day after brought new excitement and possibilities. I couldn’t wait to see Zappy! Day after day, I went to work with Poppi. I set the bags under the trees to collect the sap and then escaped to spend time with my special tree. It was now my secret place with the most wonderful Chicozapote tree ever. I decided that I loved Zappy too much to ever tell anyone. Not even my Mama or Poppi. I was also afraid to share the secret of Zappy and his amazing gumballs with anyone. After all, if the location of Zappy got out, people would come from everywhere to see him. They might disturb the rainforest or, worse yet, try to move him somewhere else. I promised Zappy to keep him safe. I would never tell anyone where he lived. It would be our secret. Every day for the rest of the summer I went to see Zappy. I’d sit in the little nook underneath his tall canopy. When it was chilly he’d spread his branches and let the sun warm me. When it was too hot, he covered me with shade.