Climb

Climb

"Climb" is a Young Adult Coming-of-Age Fiction novella written by Australian author Philip Barker and published September 24, 2021 .

Plot

Part 1 – On Belay

The story takes place in 2005 in the fictional town of Abbeydale in NSW, Australia.

Clara Davies is called to her daughter Ashley Davies’ school to discuss the principal's concerns about her transition to high school. She is accompanied by her son, who uses a wheelchair, Cameron Davies. They are interrupted by the janitor informing them that two students are climbing the school water tower during the meeting. Jacob Wills and Ashley Davies have already started climbing it when they reach the water tower. They are informed that it was a dare and that the first one to the top drops the others’ phone off. Ashley reaches the top, drops Jacob’s phone and returns to the ground. Jacob stops climbing halfway.

Clara informs Ashley that she will repair their driveway as penance in the car ride home. Cameron volunteers to help and, when out of earshot of Clara, makes Ashley promise that she will focus on her schoolwork stay out of trouble. On the bus to school, Ashley sees that Jacob has been affected by losing the water tower climb and has become the target of bullies. When she arrives, the school janitor informs her that she is a good climber and gives her a beginner rock climbing book. She tells him that she can’t climb until she finishes school. Ashley joins the school literature club, where she meets Candice and Emily, who have converted the ugly school barn into a small house. Ashley is content. Candice drives Ashley home afterwards and informs Ashley that Cameron used to be a celebrity in the town. Ashley is confused.

Ashley asks Cameron to explain what Candice meant, and he and Clara clarify that her dad isn’t around anymore because Clara told him to leave. They tell Ashley that her father lives in Sydney now. Before waiting for an explanation, Ashley becomes infuriated and walks out. When she wakes up the next day, Ashley attempts to apologise for her outburst. However, her mother isn’t at home but leaves a note saying Cameron is in charge until she returns.

Ashley attempts to focus at school but is asked on a date by a boy named Kyle. They arrange a date for that afternoon at the town centre. The school janitor informs Ashley of a rock climbing competition in Sydney. Seeing the opportunity to find her father, Ashley agrees to after school training.

Ashley finds Candice visiting and trying to sweet-talk Cameron when she arrives home. When Ashley says she has a date, Candice tells her that she wants to get her ready. Leaving her regular oversized shirts and jeans, Ashley wears a dress for the first time. Cameron notices that his sister is behaving out of character to try and please other people and becomes frustrated but does not say anything. Cameron packs a backpack for Ashley to take with her. Candice drives Ashley into town. Before Kyle arrives, Jacob and his older brother Alex find Ashley in town and pour liquid compost onto her. When Kyle arrives, they go to the barn where Literature Club was held. Ashley cleans off and changes into a spare pair of jeans and an oversized shirt her brother packed for her.

Ashley and Kyle climb a tree and hold hands. When they return to town, Kyle researches Cameron on his new phone and discovers the website Davies Devils – a company with Cameron’s picture in it that was disbanded over a decade before. Kyle is picked up by his father, and Ashley finds a bicycle, which she rides home. The next day, Ashley goes to school to find that Kyle won’t talk to her or sit near her in class. At the end of the day, she attends a climbing lesson with Ethan (the school janitor). She is surprised to see that Jacob has been invited too. Ashley and Jacob refuse to acknowledge each other. Ethan explains that the qualifications are in Bathurst in a few months.

William Mayberry drives Ashley home. He drops her at the end of the driveway.

Clara has returned, and Ashley, Clara and Cameron go to dinner at the town pub. When they are there, Clara mentions Chelsea, Cameron’s ex-girlfriend. He changes the subject. Ashley is approached by Kyles dad, who tells her to stay away from his son. Kyle’s dad is told to leave the pub. Kyle wishes Ashley luck with her climbing. Cameron overhears it and demands to know what climbing thing Kyle is talking about.

Part 2 – No Gear, No Fall

Ashley continues her climbing lessons with Ethan and Jacob. They learn about climbing gear and techniques. Ashley forges her brothers signature for a permission note to go to a local rock climbing area. William Mayberry, Ethan, Jacob and Ashley visit ‘the tombstones’, a local climbing area outside town. Ashley learns how to climb on natural rocks but struggles when told to work with Jacob. Mayberry helps her set up her climb and informs her that she has more in common with Jacob than she thinks… but that he doesn’t feel it is his place to tell her. At school, Ashley finds a necklace made from a piece of climbing gear in her locker and a note from Kyle asking her to meet him at lunchtime. She meets him in a tree and thanks him for the necklace. He explains that his mother lives near the tombstones with her new partner, a woman. Ashley realises why Kyles father was angry with how she dressed and acknowledged his sadness. Kyle explains to Ashley that Jacob came to the rocks to practice with his sister, Chelsea. Ashley is so alarmed that she falls out of the tree.

Ashley wakes up in Ethan’s house with a plastered ankle. Ethan explains that he is William Mayberry’s brother and is only in town to assist with their mum’s funeral and make sure that William is coping. Clara and Ethan argue about whether climbing is safe. Clara thanks Ethan for the hospitality and helping Ashley but leaves the house with Ashley angrily. While Ashley is in recovery at home with Cameron, Jacob visits to drop off supplies to help her recover. He tells her that he only wants her to recover so that he can beat her fairly. Cameron greets Jacob, and Jacob freezes. Jacob recognises Cameron as the man that hurt his sister and has trouble talking. Cameron leaves uncomfortably, and Jacob returns to the car, where his brother Alex comforts him. Ashley tells Cameron that she knows about Chelsea. Cameron tells her the story of how he and Chelsea became disabled. He explains that their father had a daredevil company and his accident caused an explosion that resulted in his and Chelsea’s injuries. He explains that they haven’t spoken since.

Ashley plans with Kyle to create a school excursion to the show so that they can get there without arousing suspicion. They design and create posters. Cameron suggests that they invite Kyles’s dad to the show. This would guarantee that Clara didn’t find out and would also show him that Kyle still cared for him. When Ashley is healed enough to return to school, they go in early to put up posters. Alex finds them and bullies Kyle and Ashley. Clara sees it and pushes Alex to the floor. Alex yells that he is only trying to protect his brother from being further bullied by Ashley. Ashley identifies the negative impact her actions had on Jacob and Cameron had on Chelsea. Mayberry sees the altercation and sends Alex and Clara to his office. As the qualification grows closer, Ashley becomes nervous and realises that she has nobody to belay her in the qualification. Kyle volunteers to learn how to do it.

Part 3 - Gripped

Ashley teaches him how to belay, and he belays her at the tombstones. When his knot becomes jammed, Kyle panics but is helped by Ethan, who gives him new gear. Ethan leaves before Ashley has a chance to talk to him. Ashley returns to the water tower the day before the qualification. This time she ties a rope with her in case she falls. When she reaches the top, Jacob is already there. They discuss how much has changed since the last time they climbed the water tower. Ashley admits that she has never taken a fall when climbing. She says that she wants to know how it feels. Jacob kisses her. She throws herself off the water tower to be caught by the rope. The rope catches her but is slowly being cut on a sharp edge. Jacob runs to find Ethan. Ashley frees herself from the rope but is stuck on the crumbling water tower. Jacob returns with Alex, who helps her to the ground and then drives off.

On their graduation day, Candice and Emily get drunk, and Ashley explains to Candice why Cameron can’t be with her. Emily tries to give Ashley a tattoo, and when Ashley refuses, Emily says that she saw her on top of the water tower with Jacob. Kyle overhears this and leaves, leaving his bag with his asthma inhaler behind. The next day, Ashley is up early to pack for her trip to the show. Clara interrogates her and informs her that she will be chaperoning the excursion. When they arrive, Ethan signs up Jacob and Ashley, and Clara surprises Ashley by explaining that she would be her sponsor for the competition and that she had known all along. Ashley still can’t find Kyle to return his inhaler. Jacob climbs very well and runs to hug Chelsea in the crowd. Ashley sees Chelsea for the first time and notices that she has an artificial leg and arm. Ashley climbs well but falls off because of a pain in her ankle. Ethan assesses her ankle, and Ashley explains that the pain had left as suddenly as it had started.

Ashley spots Kyle in the crowd and runs to give him his inhaler. He runs away from her, still angry that she kissed Jacob. He hides in the Ferris wheel but has an asthma attack. Ashley forces the Ferris wheel to speed up, breaking it. Ashley has to climb to the carriage, where Kyle gets his inhaler. She uses her necklace as a bolt plate to place protection if she falls. When they return to the ground, Kyles’s father apologises to Ashley, and Kyle is hospitalised.

The results are in, and Jacob beats Ashley for the top spot by one point. Jacob is announced as the qualification champion going to Sydney for the Nationals. Relieved that the year is over, Ashley sits against a wall to relax. She is joined by Krystal, an elite climber who tells her that she will sponsor her to go to nationals, even though she didn’t win the qualification. Ethan visits Clara’s house to say goodbye. He is heading off now that he knows that his brother is well. It is shown that Ethan and Clara have been together the entire year, but they wanted to keep it secret from the children. Chelsea arrives in a ute and asks to see Cameron, who is not there. Chelsea asks Clara to message Cameron that she misses him and wants to meet to catch up. Ethan leaves.

Characters

Ashley Davies – Thirteen-year-old explorer and bookworm, Ashley struggles with small town life and her incredible curiosity in a world where people prefer to blend in rather than search for meaning.

Cameron Davies – Ashley’s older brother. Disabled for over a decade and unable to walk, Cameron leads a secretive life but cares for his sister and mother and desperately wants to make sure his sister doesn’t repeat his mistakes.

Clara Davies – Ashley’s mum. Highly intelligent and well read, Clara runs the Abbeydale Library and, for the most part, stays out of her children’s lives, but ensures that they know she is there if they need her.

Ethan - Once a professional rock climber he turned to physiotherapy. Being from America, Ethan has worked in both healthcare and education and training for young climbers. Sees Ashley’s potential immediately.

William Mayberry – The principal of Ashley’s school, Abbeydale High, William is referred to simply as Mayberry throughout the story. He is a headstrong and stoic leader but shows compassion for struggling students.

Kyle Doherty – Ashley’s classmate and sidekick. Kyle appears confident but hides his families disfunction and the effect that this has on his mental health. He is handsome for his age but struggles with the expectations of country life.

Jacob Wills – Ashley’s nemesis, Jacob is immature and naïve, but struggles with his family secrets and the weight of expectations on him.

Alex Wills – Jacobs older brother, Alex initially presents as a arrogant bully, but cares for his family and is incredibly protective of his sister and younger brother.

Chelsea Wills – Jacobs older sister hardly appears in the story but is referenced frequently as a significant historical factor in the family’s rivalry.  Chelsea grew up with Jacob as members of the Davies Devils, but was injured in the same explosion as Cameron.

Sequel

The sequel "Climb Harder" was published in May 2023 .

External Links

• GoodReads listing "Climb" By Philip Barker
• "Climb" Common Climber Review By Keith Bell
• The Awkward Blogger Author Interview with Philip Barker

This article "Climb" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Climb. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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