The Red Maple

It was noon when the family pulled their new, bone-colored Honda into Meadow Park, parking lot. The sun burned unrelenting in the cloudless sky, its beams bouncing off the windshield. Lillian shielded her eyes as she moved to the back of the car. Her long dark hair tumbled over her shoulders and stuck to her already damp cheeks. She tugged at an orange plaid picnic basket, while Todd, running with the man bun fad, grabbed the blanket. Lillian shook her head and blew her bangs out of her eyes as she held with both hands, the basket of food. It banged against her thighs with every uneven step she took. Todd carried the scratchy wool blanket over his shoulders, releasing his children's hands to claw at his neck. The kids took that moment to squeal and kick through small mounds of brown, dead leaves left by a park maintenance man. The leaves skittered and danced until they got caught up, once again, in his rake. The man in the baggy overalls scraped up the loose debris and glared at the children.

"Katie! Davis! Come here, please. We need to find the perfect spot to eat our lunch. Who's hungry?" Todd ripped at his neck with his fingernails before throwing the blanket on the ground. "How about right here?"

Lillian let the picnic basket drop to the ground with a dull thud. "Here is good." She massaged her arms, concentrating on her wrists. The kids stormed from one pile of twigs to another, creating chaos like only children could do. Their screams of glee hung in the humid air. Lillian and Todd eased closer to one another, linking arms. They smiled as they watched their children play. They were happy.

This was going to be fun.

Cheese and crackers, rolled ham and salami, olives and a baguette; grapes and apple slices; bananas that were too ripe to be enjoyed; and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were just a few of the mundane goods produced from the basket. A bottle of Pinot Noir was the only saving grace, even though it was sipped from dollar store plastic cups. It wasn't long before wasps and other nagging pests excited the family. They swatted the air and let out intermittent cries of despair, especially Lillian whose voice was particularly piercing.

The children's reddened faces glistened with sweat, but still they played, stopping only to gulp down Capri Sun, the fruit punch variety.

Todd stood and arched his back, stretching one arm over his shoulder and then the other. He squinted into the distance and found what he was looking for. "I need some shade. It's hotter than the flames of hell today."

Lillian didn't answer, she was busy taking a selfie, then trying to find the perfect quote to match. She came up with "Sunshine and family, it's good for the soul." #hotmama #picnicday #familiesareforever

Todd headed to the red maple tree. His mouth was gummy, he had forgotten his wine cup. He hesitated for a moment. The kids, he knew from experience, would try to engage him in horseplay if he went back. The day was just too hot for that nonsense. He blinked the sweat out of his eyes and marched on. Not unlike a siren of Greek mythology, the leaves called to him, rustling and singing their seductive song. Todd found himself unable to turn down their chorus. He quickened his pace. This tree was old, he could tell by the bark; it was dark grey and rough in appearance, with long cracks running down its trunk. He wanted to hug it. But he couldn't do that, that would be weird. A sudden northern breeze ruffled his hair, immediately drying his forehead. It was intoxicating and if he couldn't hug the tree, he would sit against it. He slid down to the ground where surface roots bulged, disturbing the grass.

Something sharp pierced his back, between his shoulder blades. It sent electrical shivers down his spine. The shock lasted only an instant and was quickly forgotten. Todd leaned his head back and closed his eyes to fully enjoy the cool bliss of the red maple tree shade.

How long Todd had been sitting, appreciating the gentle wind that seemed to emanate from the tree itself, he could not tell. He just knew that he felt more awake, more alive than ever before. Was the sky always this blue?