Rainy Escape
This is a piece of writing I turned into our school literature book. It's a memoir of my experiences at the real Lake View Park. The setting of the rainy day isn't real but it gave the piece the feel I wanted. Enjoy.
The rain tickles through the leaves of the tree tapping my umbrella with unsure fingers. My rain coat squeaks as I move. The smell of the wet leaves and dirt bring back so many memories of playing in puddles and running in the mud.
The vacant playset sways in the breeze. The paint chipped merry go round and swings beckon to be played on. The ducks playing in the canal just over the small hill, can be heard splashing and swimming in the spring shower.
I am alone, my blue Grand-am the only car in the lot. I run my hand over the wet bark of the huge birch I stand under. Even now I still can’t put my arms all the way around its’ large trunk. “It’s been too long.” I murmur to myself as I trace the rough patterns of the bark. I watch the water pool on the leaf strewn asphalt under my feet. The drops send ripples across my shadowed reflection.
I look over the park. So many memories. Hot summer afternoons running between the trees. Chasing Dad in the longest game of tag ever played, then yelling out in triumph when finally tackling him. Burning my hands on the merry go round but hanging on as Dad pushed my brother and sisters and me around and around, faster and faster. Making huge leaf piles in the fall and burying each other in them, only to find when you emerge that the leaves were filled with slugs.
Feeding the ducks cheerios, and left over waffles and chasing the seagulls as they landed. Sledding down the biggest hill in the park on our new purple sled. Building and snowman as tall as I was and watching Dad put it on top of the frozen fountain. Running from Mom as she chased us throwing snowballs, and then tackling her with hugs. Watching a crow steal the fries out of an old McDonald’s bag. Chasing a squirrel up a tree and waiting for it to come down with the patients only a ten year old can master.
Ice cream dripping all over my fingers, covering my face and hands in sticky goodness as I sat on a park bench with Mom. Picnics of Arctic Circle corn dogs and fry sauce, eating as fast as we could so we could go play on the slide. Declaring who was king by who could get to the top of the tower the fastest. Running up the slide even when Mom said not to. Holding super secret meetings in the tunnel and watching Mom and Dad through the holes. Then screaming and giggling when Dads’ hand would come through the holes with a sneak attack of tickle bombs. Running in between the swings to see who could do the best Indiana Jones impression. Bloody noses when we didn’t time it just right. Trying to get all the way across the play ground without touching the “lava”.
Mom was base for every game of tag whether she liked it or not. She was the ultimate Ouchy fixer. Running to her after falling off the monkey bars, being kicked by someone on the swings, or when those darn poles would jump out in front of you during a heated game of tag, she could make it better.
But then each day would end when Mom was tired and it was time to go home. Everyone would pile in the car, protesting for five minutes more.
I smile remembering the warm memories of childhood. I sigh, the mantle of adulthood re-descending. Once more I brush the tree reliving one more memory.
The last time I had been here. My very first date. Sitting under the willows with my two best friends and our three dates after eating too much ice cream. The summer heat warming our skin and thoughts of the grand future dancing around our heads.
“ Do you think you’ll ever move back here?”
“You have to come visit, it won’t be the same without you.”
“We’ll come down and see you as soon as I get my license.”
“You just can’t move.”
A tear joins the rain drops as the last aching memory fades to reality. It has been too long, much much too long. I check my watch. It’s time to go. I shake out my umbrella and climb into my car. After pulling out, I look back in time to see the welcome sign to Lake View Park disappear as the rain grows harder.
The vacant playset sways in the breeze. The paint chipped merry go round and swings beckon to be played on. The ducks playing in the canal just over the small hill, can be heard splashing and swimming in the spring shower.
I am alone, my blue Grand-am the only car in the lot. I run my hand over the wet bark of the huge birch I stand under. Even now I still can’t put my arms all the way around its’ large trunk. “It’s been too long.” I murmur to myself as I trace the rough patterns of the bark. I watch the water pool on the leaf strewn asphalt under my feet. The drops send ripples across my shadowed reflection.
I look over the park. So many memories. Hot summer afternoons running between the trees. Chasing Dad in the longest game of tag ever played, then yelling out in triumph when finally tackling him. Burning my hands on the merry go round but hanging on as Dad pushed my brother and sisters and me around and around, faster and faster. Making huge leaf piles in the fall and burying each other in them, only to find when you emerge that the leaves were filled with slugs.
Feeding the ducks cheerios, and left over waffles and chasing the seagulls as they landed. Sledding down the biggest hill in the park on our new purple sled. Building and snowman as tall as I was and watching Dad put it on top of the frozen fountain. Running from Mom as she chased us throwing snowballs, and then tackling her with hugs. Watching a crow steal the fries out of an old McDonald’s bag. Chasing a squirrel up a tree and waiting for it to come down with the patients only a ten year old can master.
Ice cream dripping all over my fingers, covering my face and hands in sticky goodness as I sat on a park bench with Mom. Picnics of Arctic Circle corn dogs and fry sauce, eating as fast as we could so we could go play on the slide. Declaring who was king by who could get to the top of the tower the fastest. Running up the slide even when Mom said not to. Holding super secret meetings in the tunnel and watching Mom and Dad through the holes. Then screaming and giggling when Dads’ hand would come through the holes with a sneak attack of tickle bombs. Running in between the swings to see who could do the best Indiana Jones impression. Bloody noses when we didn’t time it just right. Trying to get all the way across the play ground without touching the “lava”.
Mom was base for every game of tag whether she liked it or not. She was the ultimate Ouchy fixer. Running to her after falling off the monkey bars, being kicked by someone on the swings, or when those darn poles would jump out in front of you during a heated game of tag, she could make it better.
But then each day would end when Mom was tired and it was time to go home. Everyone would pile in the car, protesting for five minutes more.
I smile remembering the warm memories of childhood. I sigh, the mantle of adulthood re-descending. Once more I brush the tree reliving one more memory.
The last time I had been here. My very first date. Sitting under the willows with my two best friends and our three dates after eating too much ice cream. The summer heat warming our skin and thoughts of the grand future dancing around our heads.
“ Do you think you’ll ever move back here?”
“You have to come visit, it won’t be the same without you.”
“We’ll come down and see you as soon as I get my license.”
“You just can’t move.”
A tear joins the rain drops as the last aching memory fades to reality. It has been too long, much much too long. I check my watch. It’s time to go. I shake out my umbrella and climb into my car. After pulling out, I look back in time to see the welcome sign to Lake View Park disappear as the rain grows harder.
You've got talent, Girl. Nourish it. Kudos to a mom and dad who are providing such good memories. So sorry the fates pulled you away from dear friends. Someday I want a ride in that blue Grand-am.
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