Memory Park Lane
“I should go before Sarah stI sit here alone on a bench in a park. My friends and I used to come here a lot as children. A world before cell phones and facetime became a thing. It was great growing up back then. when we were ten thing i figured out what i wanted to be as an adult. Maybe I should just tell you the story from back in the day.
Angel,J.G and I were hanging out on the playground. "We should do a movie night soon. Maybe on Friday night. I have to go to the dentist after school but I'm free around 4:30. What about you guys?" J.G asked spinning in his swing. I stopped my swing really fast with dragging my shoes on the grass. "My mom wants to take me shopping for my room on friday. She and dad thinks my room should belong to a two year old. " Angel came out of her La La land long enough to join the convo. "We can't do movie night at my house we got a bird and it won't shut up. Robby has been teaching it to swear."
About 50 feet away from the group of friends two young boys are arguing over their differences. "Patrick stop it leave me alone. I'm trying to figure out what they are saying." Said the younger of the two. Patrick put the boy in a headlock. "Come on little brother admit it. You like the girl in the pigtail braids. Tell the truth you want to kiss her. But she is too good for you. Way too pretty Jackson." Jack got out of the headlock and pushed Patrick up against the phone poll with his right arm behind him being held into his shoulder blades. "No one calls me Jackson only mom and dad. And who I like isn't your business Patrick. Now leave me alone!"
The boys stopped rough housing and fixed their jackets and went back to people watching well Jack went back to people watching Patrick started kicking at the rocks at his feet. "You know all you have to do is go over there and talk to her. The girl in the pigtail braids. Better yet why don't you ask her friends who she is. You have been watching her for month and half and still no name." Jack rolled his eyes at his brother. "I'll find out soon enough ok I'm planning to ask the one with the bowl cut maybe he'll tell me. He seems harmless enough." Patrick picked up a rock and threw it to where it almost hit a passing car. "How about I go over there and ask her who she is for you. Don't worry I won't tell the girl in the pigtail braids that you have a thing for her."
Patrick started walking over to the swings and spun around and gave smug smile. "Maybe I'll get her number maybe even a date of some sorts." Jack rushed over and knocked his brother to the ground. "I have my own plan of talking to her. I don't need you to screw it up for me. God knows that you have a gift to screw things up for other people. Now go home." Over by the swings Angel was talking about something off the wall. "Do you understand what she is saying at all?" J.G asked standing up from the swing. "I have no idea and i have been friends with her longer then you." Meredith said walking over to him. Angel stopped talking about none sense and started watching the two young men across the field.
Jack kept standing over his brother making sure that he stays on the ground. He turned his head and saw the girl in the pigtail braids and her friends still there talking. In that moment Patrick stood up and punched his kid brother in the stomach making him double over in pain. Jack swang his fist and hit Patrick in the face hearing a loud crack. The boys keep at it for a good three minutes until Meredith and J.G ran over to pull the boys apart the best they can with their arms still trying to make contact with each other. "STOP!!!! HEY WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? STOP NOW!!" Meredith yelled trying to push Jack's arms down to keep him from trying to wack her in the face and trying to get him way from Patrick. The two brothers stopped fighting to see that they were being held back by two of the three friends.
On the other side of the park Angel walked around the edges of the park looking up in the clouds trying to see what they are. "There is a cat he looks mad. And right there is a arrowhead." She walked kept walking around looking at them until she came across the group. "Hey guys I can see a bra in the clouds that shouldn't be there." She went on to watching the clouds wondering around. "Hey look Jack it's her the girl with the pigtail braids. You have anything to tell her?" Patrick said pulling out of J.G's grip almost knocking him to the ground. Jack glared at him trying to give the same shut up look their father gives them both at times. "Did mom and dad ever teach you to shut your mouth? Just shut your mouth this time got it?!! And you can please let go of me. I'm not going to do anything. " I let go of his arms but ready to hold him back again at a moments notice. "Can you tell me what happened? Why were you two fighting like wild animals? And why did you call me the girl with the pigtail braids?" I asked them putting my hands on my hips then stopped half way not wanting to look like mom when she is mad.
J.G went off to find Angel leaving me with the two young men. With Angel you never know where she could have gone off to. With Angel you never know where she might end up. She might just walk into the Hudson River. Patrick went to sit down on a bench near by rubbing his jaw trying to see if it's broken. "You know mom and dad are going to have a field day when they find out what you did to me." He yelled over to them. "We were fighting because my brother Patrick was being a bully and trying to get me to do something that I didn't want to do. So we fought like that. We didn't know your name so we call you the girl with the pigtail braids. I'm sorry about everything." Jack explained looking at me with his mint green eyes.
"Well you should be sorry you broke my jaw I'm so going to get you back for this." Patrick said now laying on the bench. I looked over at the older of the two brothers and crossed my arms. “Oh please if your jaw was broken you wouldn’t be flapping your gums. Maybe you should shut it before I actually do damage to you.” The younger brother started swinging his arms trying to figure out what to say. “Just ignore my brother he has been rather a bite whinny since the day he was born. I find that very loud music tunes him out the best. I recommend the Beasty Boys.” As we kept talking Sarah Lights showed up waving at J.G. telling him it was time to go. “So your name is Jack hu? Nice boy next door vibes to it. I can see football and cheerleaders in your future.” He gave a nervous laugh at my corny joke. Just then J.G came over to where we were talking. “Sarah says it’s time go home. It’s more like she just wants to get home to wait for a phone call from a boy or watch top ten count down on tv.” He said rolling his eyes at his own sister then ran back to Sarah and Angel.
art tapping her foot waiting for me. You should get that one home before his cries attracts wild life to him.” As I start walking off I doubled back and kissed Jack’s cheek. “And as for my name it’s not the girl with pigtail braids it’s Meredith and next time you see me at the park feel free to talk to me.” I ran over to Sarah and the others to go home.
Now back to the present over looking the park tuning back into reality. My phone started ringing with the caller i.d saying my husband’s name. I guess it’s time for me to leave that memory here and maybe one day the little one I am carrying will have very good friends like I did all those years ago. I left memory lane back in that old park.
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