Wishy Washy, at Best

Chapter Three: Just a Walk in the Park

The small park was heated by the blinding rays of the burning sun. The colorful playset was framed by wood chips. We were one of few families that came on a regular basis. I didn't want to raise the kids in front of the television. Today, though sunny, no one else was there. I let a sigh of relief once it was clear we were alone.

I have this thing with other people. They make me really nervous. I have no idea how to talk to them. How sad is that? I can't communicate with my own species without appearing as if I'm an alien in disguise! It's not just because they are judgmental, most tell me that it's wrong to be a teenage parent. They don't listen when I say I'm not their mother. Even if they don't start in from that angle they just make me feel so awkward. All they want to do is talk about other people. There is so much out there, there are so many different possibilities, but they decide to limit their already small world to people. So yeah, no social skills. Go me!

They kids took off running to the slide. Billy is so fast. I could start helping him at track. I smiled to myself. I stop in horror and shock. What was I thinking? I sounded like him. I mentally slapped myself, the kids need better than that kind of mentality.

"Sam can't catch me!" The kids screeched the taunting song from the top of a steep slide. They knew what that is to us, it's a battle cry.

I took off running up the stairs covering the short distance in a mere matter of seconds. As I go up the last flight of stairs Billy escapes down the slide. Sally, though, was not as prepared.

I grab her around her waist. She screams trying to break free as I tickle her. I let her go, pretending it was an accident. She goes down the slide laughing.

I watch how her blonde cascade of hair flows in the wind. Letting her feet hit the sawdust, before I followed down the steep blue surface of the slide.

I stumble over to the grass, outside the concrete border, in false fatigue. I lay in the cool grass with my eyes shut. The kids footsteps cautiously creeped closer.

It wasn't long before I felt a small, warm hand shake my shoulder.

"Sammy, are you dead?" I could feel Billy's hot breathe sweep over my face.

I nodded once.

Billy sighed. "Oh. Okay, bye."

I grabbed his foot before he could move to far a way. His laugh echoed through the warm air. I opened my eyes as I rolled onto my stomach.

I tickled him as he tried to squirm away. I let him go, as I stood up. The kids ran for the twisted metal of the playground. I smiled to myself following after them.

A dark figure caught my attention. The tall figure at the far edge of the park seemed to be cloaked in a grim darkness. In a setting so colorfully light, the dimmed figure was strangely out of place.
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'They seem to carry darkness with them. That's how you know they're watching. They watch their pray, finding joy in knowing what life they take out of the world.' He threw the words at me. As if my life would depend on them.

My ten year old mind was used to this by now. But this story was different from the rest. It didn't sound like a story. It sounded like a lecture, a warning.

Staring blankly at the white ceiling I listened his words, without actually acknowledging their meaning. 'Don't be stupid.' He snarled accusingly at me. 'You have to listen, Sammy, if you want a chance'
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I shivered. It was just a twisted bed story. I tried to reassure myself, but I still had the sinking feeling of the truth weighing my soul. I resisted the urge to run.

Eyeing the dark figure I walked quickly to the children.

"Billy, Sally, it's time to go." I called out to the occupied playground. They groaned in unison.

Their sluggish movements made my anxiety grow. I fell like pray, as if I was a rabbit with a wolf laying in watch, waiting to feed on me and my family.

When the kids finally reach me I grab their hands roughly. Trying not to break their little knuckles, we walk away.

The dark figure still watching from his distance post.