It seems life is on the verge of perfection for Lola before a threatening figure from her past shows up. Lola realises danger is near, and flees. But she can't run forever, especially not with her precious and vulnerable little sister Lindsey by her...
The moment we are inside the park Lindsey sets herself the task of finding us a nice picnic spot. "You carried her all the way here." I whisper. I'm struck by the peculiar twist in Edmund's disposition. He simply shrugs his shoulders. His reply is achingly vague but I decide to let it slip. Besides, Lindsey has found us a spot on a sun-soaked patch of grass.
She is turning in circles now, so persistently I'm awfully afraid she'll dizzy herself. We head over to the spot Lindsey has pointed and I open the basket, producing a red and white checkered picnic blanket. I carefully spread this out on the grass and set the hamper down.
Edmund collapses forward onto his belly, hitting the blanket hard. "I'm hungry." He mumbles. I sigh. Lindsey and I seat ourselves cross-legged beside him, and I permit the pair of them to dissect the contents of the picnic hamper, allowing myself a few treasured moments to admire our surroundings.
Ada used to tell us a lot about parks. We never went to one, we simply took advantage of our land out back. Sunday is a maid's day off, and we were always so generously granted an extensive description of parks on this particular weekday. Ada has four nephews and a niece, and she has a particular liking for taking them to parks on Sundays.
"Sunday is park day..." She would say. And under the impression of the scene before me I would not declare her opinion unpopular. The park is relatively busy. Although there are surprisingly few other picnics, dog walkers are everywhere and there are strollers as far as the eye can see.
The cherry blossom trees with their prim and graceful beauty; beds of lush grass riddled with daisies segregated by cobbled pathways. I've decided I am a hardcore lover of parks on Sundays in spring.
--------------------------
When I am finally pulled by some invisible force from my starstruck haven, I see Edmund and Lindsey eating cold mutton sandwiches. Edmund takes a swig from a bottle of lemonade. "You want to eat something Lola?" I nod. "You see, I called you Lola because Edmund knows our real names!" I exchange an amused glance with him and he chuckles, tossing me a sandwich.
Lindsey exhales deeply. "I never want to leave this park. Let's live here." The absurdity of her comment draws me to giggles. "What do you mean?" Edmund asks, his face animated with genuine puzzlement. This only escalates the humour of the conversation.
"Just... stay here. Eat mutton sandwiches on this patch of grass. You two can be my park Mama and Papa." This is too much for Edmund too, and he snaps into a fit of laughter. Lindsey laughs as well, and I'm so glad she hasn't taken this to heart as she usually does. So glad she realises that the world is most commonly laughing with her, not at her.
Once I've polished off my sandwich along with a whole bottle of lemonade, I lie down and shift myself onto my side. In that position I stay put; drinking in the cherry blossoms and sun rays; half-listening intently to Edmund and Lindsey's conversation beside me.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
And allow this to lull me to sleep.
--------------------------
"Lola! Lola!" A rough grip on my arm rocks me violently from side to side, plunging me from my sleep. I'm irritated by this rude awakening. "Oh please wake up!" My vision is obscured as I've only just regained consciousness but I possess enough sense to see it is Edmund that has awoken me.
My joints are stiff with disuse but I manage to heave myself into an upright position. "What is it?" I snap. It's rare that I manage to sneak myself a nap, as I have always been particularly bad at sleeping during the day. "It's my Mother! She's coming, she wants you and your sister!"
What in the world? I haven't the foggiest what Edmund is trying to convey. He must have read the confusion on my face as he begins another frantic and desperate attempt to explain the situation.
"I've no idea who you really are, but I know people are looking for you! Mother is approaching, she's calling you and Lindsey's names and saying that your Mother's here to claim you!" Oh no. No no no!
The reality begins to sink in. It's Mother, and she's found us. She'll be wanting to take us home; I cannot let her! It is most probable that Father is there waiting for us, and I could never allow Lindsey to fall into his hands ever again! I scramble to my feet and hastily straighten my skirt.
The admirable sunset fabric gleams up at me, and I think about how much I dearly want to stay. How much I long for the homely interior of the Pointer house and the lively company of it's residents. How agonisingly remorseful I am that we have been forced into leaving so soon.
But alas, there is hardly time enough to ponder over my sorrows. I adjust myself. "Where is Lindsey?!" I whisper forcefully. We need to take flight, and we need to now. A small voice sounds from behind a nearby tree trunk. "Here." Right. Get yourself together... my mind races.
"They're coming Lola!" Edmund cries, pointing in the direction of the gate, where a sizeable army of adults is entering the park. Amongst them I identify Mr. Pointer, Mrs. Pointer and our own Mother. I had been half hoping we would at least have sufficient time to snatch up a few picnic left overs, but now the real urgency of the situation has hit me.
I grasp Edmund's hand in my own and feel the slick of his sweaty palm. Lindsey rushes forward and mounts herself on Edmund's back, latching her arms around his neck and wrapping her legs around his waist. Before we flee, I take the park in one last time. And then I know we must leave.
With that, Edmund and I hurl forward and break into a sprint.
*** To anybody reading, be sure to check back on chapters: - Drinking In Sunrays - Miniature Wooden Horse - Splendid Sisters
My friend has drawn some wonderful illustrations for these chapters! They really capture what's going on in the story, so make sure you look back and check them out!
