Genesis

The Bad Man

     Her hand was familiar, soft, and warm. Her golden hair still glowed despite the dim light of the street lamps, barely reaching us as they towered above the world. I turned my head up to look at her with a joyful smile. It was Tuesday today, and that meant it was park day; the one day I could go outside. Even if it was only when it was really dark and there was nobody to talk to.

     She looked left and right as she always did when we were out in the empty streets. I wondered what she was looking for, but knew that she would get mad when I questioned her. I decided not to ask again.

     I tugged her hand down towards me when she stopped at the corner of an alley.

     "Come on Mama. Let's go, there are no cars here so it's okay."

     She looked down to smile warmly at me before we crossed the street. She hoisted me up into her arms and lowered me down over the fence before she climbed over it herself. I took her hand again, pulling her to walk faster as we approached the park's play area.

     My mom's grip on my hand tightened as she pulled me to a sudden stop. I looked up to see her eyes widened slightly, and that's when I heard it; the creaking of a metal swing.

     Mama crouched down, and held her finger to her mouth, signaling me to be quiet as I followed right by her side and we made our way slowly towards the noise. Then we saw it.

     A boy. And he looked about my height too. As I saw him sitting alone on the swing, Mama tugged on my hand.

     "Let's go."

     I pulled her hand back, "Mama, please."

     "Quinn. Now," her voice deepened.

     "Please, Mama. Why won't you let me talk to anyone?"

     "Because. Quinn, we've been over this. The Bad Man is everywhere, and you have something he wants."

     I sighed, "Come on, Mama. Not everyone can be dangerous. And he doesn't look dangerous. Please, Mama, let me talk to him."

     Her intense gaze turned away from me to look up at the lone boy sitting on the swing, before turning back to me as she took a deep breath.

     "Okay. You can talk to him. But if anything looks suspicious--,"

     She was cut off when I started giggling, "Thank you so much, Mama!"

     A huge grin spread onto my face as I began to jog towards the swing-set, suddenly turning back when I realized something I needed to ask.

     "Mama?"

     "Yes, Quinn?"

     "How do I introduce myself?" I asked her.

     She smiled at me, "Well, first you say hello, and then you say your name."

     The grin plastered itself back onto my face as I gave her a bear hug.

     "Thank you, Mama," I whispered before jogging down the path again.

     I realized that I had been jogging too quietly when, even though I was almost in front of the swing set, the boy hadn't noticed me. I was careful to make the next few steps I took audible, watching as the boy's hanging head snapped upward in surprise. There was a brief silence as I saw his wide brown eyes looking at me, and I remembered what I needed to say.