The Kiss: An Anthology About Love and Other Close Encounters(92)
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Suzie O’Connell is the author of the Northstar Angels series, contemporary romances set in scenic Montana. The first three books in the series, Mountain Angel, Summer Angel, and Twice Shy, are out, with the fourth book, Wild Angel, to be released in early 2014. When she isn’t writing, Suzie can be found with a camera in hand, playing in the mountains with her husband, daughter, and golden retriever. Visit her site at:
www.suzieoconnell.com
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Strangers
Holli Spaulding
We all start as strangers. Whether we meet on a bus, a train, work, in line at Starbucks, or on a park bench, we all have to start somewhere. Most strangers come into our life for a brief moment, just passing through like leaves in the wind. But some strangers come into our lives when we need it most. Just when we think our lives might be over or when things can’t get much worse, a stranger might just walk by and change everything you thought you knew.
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I’m sitting on a bench at what used to be my favorite park. My dad would take me here every day after school when I was a kid. Now I come here every year on the anniversary of his death, trying to remember a happier time in my life. It’s littered with trash, broken bottles and graffiti. The weeds have grown so tall that they brush my shoulders as I sit. Cuss words, penises, and gang signs are drawn all over the slide and tunnel. Kids these days are so unoriginal. If you’re going to leave your mark on something, make it memorable, passionate, or at least funny. It doesn’t look like it’s been used in years. The park has just withered away and died.
I sink back into the bench, close my eyes, and allow myself to remember my dad. I can almost feel the wind in my hair as he pushes me higher on the swing. As I pump my legs faster and faster, I swear they can reach the clouds. I used to think if I could swing just a little bit higher, pump my legs a little bit faster, I could jump out of my swing and land among the clouds.
“Ready to jump on the count of three, Stella?” My dad says. He’s talking in a serious tone, like we’re in a life or death situation. He was always so dramatic, adding excitement and drama to my everyday life. “If you choose to stay in the swing and not jump, the planet will face mass destruction. A spell will be broken, causing all the zombie’s to rise from their graves. But if you choose to jump, if you choose to take that leap of faith and soar into the sky, you’ll save everyone from the mother of all zombie apocalypses. You’ll conquer your fear of flying, as well as saving your fellow Americans!”
“YES! I’m ready. Give me a countdown.” I giggle. I grip tightly to the chains, willing my beating heart to calm down. Excitement courses through me as my dad begins his countdown.
“One, two, two and a half, two and three quarters.”
“DAD! Just count to three already. I’m growing old up here and I think I see zombie hands trying to come out of the ground. Hurry up and count before it’s too late!”
“Three, JUMP!” I get my momentum and leap from my swing into the air. I stretch my fingertips out as far as I can, and try my hardest to swipe my fingertips through the fluffy clouds. I land in the soft sand, and roll over onto my back and stare up at the sky that seems so far out of reach. My dad walks up and lies down beside me in the sand.
“You did it my sweet, brave girl. You saved us all. How will I ever repay you?” He takes his hat off and holds it over his heart.
“If you really want to repay me, you’ll tell mom to let me have ice cream for dinner for one week, with chocolate syrup on top. Oh, and sprinkles.”
“Deal. We most definitely can’t forget the sprinkles.” He reaches over and kisses my forehead. “What you did today was very brave. Most kids can’t say that they saved an entire planet.” He looks over at me and gives me a small wink.
“But daddy, it was just pretend. I didn’t really save the planet today. I just jumped out of a swing.”
“Yes, you’re right. You did just jump out of a swing. But remember last week how you were scared to jump? You were scared you were going to fall and hurt yourself. I want you to always remember that you are good enough. If you can learn that, then you will never be afraid to try new things and you will never be too scared to fail.” I look over and smile at my dad and I am so happy because I have the best dad in the whole wide world.
I am rustled out of my daydream by the slow creaking of the swing set. As I lift my head I see a boy about my age staring at me. He is wearing faded jeans, a Depeche Mode t-shirt, and a worn pair of converse. He has a small smile playing on his lips but it doesn’t reach his eyes. His eyes look like they hold years of sadness. I bend my head down and wipe the tears that I didn’t know were streaming down my face.
“What were you thinking about just now? You looked so peaceful lost in your daydream. Then your face became sad and you started to cry.” He has his head tilted to one side as if he’s studying me.
I lift my face up to meet his and I just stare at him. This is my place of peace. Why is he here? Nobody is ever at this park. I only come here once a year and allow myself to remember a happier time in my life, and I don’t want to share this day with anyone.
“What are you doing here?” I ask him rudely.
“Well, the last time I checked, this was a free country. I can be at this park if I’d like. Why are you here? It’s obvious to both of us this park has been abandoned for years, so what brings us both to this park today?” He says thoughtfully. Smart ass.