His Resting Place

Chapter 2

Grabbing his cane he pushed himself to take a few steps, then some more until he was out the gate. He started down his street reflecting on what used to be a serene nature walk now filled with musty air and potholed roads. 

The trees that used to line the streets were replaced with concrete and steel. The sound of chirping birds were now substituted for factory noise and those said factories decorated the sky with gray clouds of smoke.

He carefully crossed the busy street and continued on the other side. He passed newly built department stores and some older ones. A few skaters breezed pass him almost knocking him over causing him to curse under his breath. 

The faint sound of an ice-cream truck could be heard lower down the road and the loud sirens of a fire truck drowned it out as it passed. Marco stood still for a moment watching the truck fly by, remembering the days when he followed closely behind in his chief car.

Brushing the thought away he continued his stroll until he came upon Evergreen Park.

"Grandpa can we go in?" Rick asked.

"Rick you must enjoy every moment of life like it's your last," he said breathing in scenery.

"But I want to enjoy it over there by the pond," Rick lamented tugging his grandfather's arm.

Marco laughed and allowed him to go.

Marco slowly walked in the park. There were few families there and even fewer children. The grassy area now covered only certain parts of the park. The tall evergreen trees were limited to just four, one on each corner. 

Marco walked over to a bench under some shade and sat down, grunting as he landed on the hard wood. He rested his cane at the side of him and stared off into the distance. His eyes drooped slightly and as the little breeze blew he rocked himself into another doze.

"Grandpa look what I found," Rick said as he ran up to him. 

Rick opened his hands to reveal some tiny blue eggs.

"Where did you find that?" Grandpa asked.

"Over there," he said pointing to a tree nearby the pond.

"My son do you know what they are?"

"Eggs. A bird left her babies behind." Marco chuckled. 

"No she didn't. She is probably nearby getting food for herself. Just like how you and I have to eat birds also have to eat too."

"Can we keep them?"

"No hunnie his grandmother said, "let's go put them back."

She rose from her seat and hand in hand took Rick back to the tree.

"We'll keep close watch to see when the eggs hatch," she continued as they walked away.

"Dad," his son Ronnie shouted. "Time to eat," he said pointing at the picnic blanket on the ground.

"Excuse me Sir," an unfamiliar voice said. "Sir," the voice prompted again. 

Then there was a little tap on his leg jolting him out of his memories. Marco looked around reminding himself of where he was. 

"Hi," a little girl said jumping up and down in front of him.

"What do you want?" he questioned harshly causing her to stop jumping and run back to her mother screaming.

A few minutes later two little boys showed up. 

"You cannot catch me," they sang as they danced in front of Marco. 

The little girl came up from behind his bench and poked him. They all screamed when Marco picked up his stick and scattered when he attempted to get up. 

"Brats," he muttered under his breath as he took a few steps towards the pond or what's left of it. 

The ducks no longer lived there, only weeds laying still in the murky still water. 

"The big bad wolf will come for you," one boy shouted to the little girl as she silently approached Marco. 

He turned around just in time to see her a few feet off. Then they started a stare-off. Marco squinted desperately holding his cane to keep him from losing balance. The little girl held on to her doll and then she started running to him.

"Don't do it," he heard a little boy shout.

"Marianne!" a woman's voice called.

Marco looked up to see where the voice was coming from. He spotted a faint silhouette in the distance waving. The little girl who was apparently Marianne made a U-turn right next to him and ran down to meet her mother. 

Her pink dress blowing in the wind as she held her doll tightly in the right hand. He watched for a little while remembering when his daughter-in-law, Kate used to call her sons Rick and Peter for brunch.

Marco turned his attention back to the pond. A small frog leaped out from some nearby bushes and splashed into the water. A fresh calming breeze blew, rustling the dry leaves that carpeted the park floor throwing some into the pond. 

Chirping sounds light up the air bringing some life the park. The tree next to the pond used to be full of birds especially in the springtime. Marco looked at the tree. The green leaves had fallen off and many its the branches lay at the foot of the tree.

It was no longer hospitable for animal housing. The one thing Marco was contented about was the clean surrounds the park seem to maintain. There was no sign of litter anywhere and the bins were put to full use. 

Every two days the garbage truck came and emptied the bins and every week a grounds man made sure the surroundings child safe. Marco knew that because he made the trek everyday since he lost his family.