Park

The morning was cool, almost to the point of being chilly. Closing her eyes, Abbi took a deep breath, letting crisp air fill her lungs. She loved the chill. Her chin raised, she smiled into the sunlight that shone through the tree branches high above her. Sitting by herself on the end of a park bench, her hands folded on her lap, she enjoyed the warmth of the sunlight and the cool breeze on her shoulders and legs. Gently kicking her bare feet, which didn’t quite touch the ground, back and forth, she opened her eyes, taking in the scenery of the park.

Abbi had been coming to the park since she was young. She’d never really taken to going into the city, but she loved City Park, especially on mornings such as this one. She loved the scent of the trees and the feel of the dew on the grass beneath her bare feet. The crispness of the breeze on her shoulders gave her goose bumps. The sound of the leaves rustling, and the way they glowed in the mid-morning sun always made her smile. Most of all, she loved watching.

This was one of her favorite areas of the park. It was one of a few places with a wide and open space, with no trees, except for those that surrounded the area. She loved to watch the people around her in the park. Joggers, dog walkers, couples... she didn’t know any of them, but she enjoyed seeing them as they passed by her. Mornings like this one were perfect.

A couple of kids kicked a soccer ball back and forth to one another. A small group of cyclists zipped by, splitting in two, some going behind the park bench she sat on, the others passing in front.

Abbi watched each in turn with mild interest, a small smile on her face.

A middle-aged man in a suit and a brimmed hat took a seat at the other end of the park bench. Nodding once in her direction, he turned his attention to the newspaper he held and began unfolding it.

Glancing at the man, Abbi pushed herself forward on the bench until her feet met the ground and stood up. Smoothing her dress, she narrowed her eyes and then smiled at a young child holding her mother’s hand, who waved at her as they passed by.

Stepping off of the paved walkway, Abbi walked slowly in the cool grass beside it, enjoying the feel of it beneath her feet.

The path she walked along the side of led out of the park and into the city beyond. She glanced at the park’s entrance and then turned away from it.

Wandering away from the pavement several paces until she was far enough away so as not to be in the way of anyone walking, she sat down in the grass, crossing her legs under her. She smoothed the fabric of the knee-length dress she wore, then slowly moved her hand back and forth, just high enough over the ground so that the tips of the blades of grass grazed her palm. Smiling at the tickling of her hand, she closed her eyes and breathed in deeply.

Continuing the motion of her hand, Abbi slowly opened her eyes. Her head slightly tilted to one side, she gazed lazily toward the entrance of the park. She watched as three kids on bicycles rode in on the path, and then veered off into the grass, attempting wheelies and “hopping” their bikes.

Turning her attention again to the park’s entrance, she saw a man casually strolling along the path. He, too, seemed to be watching the others around him. There was also something familiar about him.

Sitting up onto her knees to get a better look, her smile broadened, and she felt her heart give a little jump. The person she watched was Eddus Brandt, the man she’d met a few weeks earlier. She’d gone to a pub with him, and he walked to the park with her afterward.

Getting to her feet, she slowly began to follow him, keeping her distance. She fought the urge to go to him and say hello. While happy to see the man who had been so kind to her, she still hesitated. Not knowing just what he was doing, she didn’t want to disturb him.

Eddus walked along the path slowly, casually looking around him. He did not seem to be in any hurry or have anywhere to be going, and made his way further into the park, the trees along the path on which he walked becoming denser.

Abbi continued following at a distance. As Eddus left the pavement, walking through the grass and towards a small open area between the trees, she closed the distance between them. Quickening her pace, she then ducked behind a tree that Eddus had passed as he entered the small clearing.

He stopped walking. The sun shone through the canopy above, formed by the trees that surrounded the open area, lighting the ground beneath. Aside from the grass that covered the ground, there were several groups of mushrooms. There were about four or five groups in the clearing in which he stood. Each group of mushrooms had grown, forming a circle. Some were larger than others.

From where she stood behind the tree, Abbi peered out at him.

Carefully, Eddus made his way between the circles, looking at each one as he slowly passed it. At the fourth one he came to he halt. For several moments, he looked down at the formation in front of him, then looked from side to side. Slowly, he lifted his foot.

“You don’t want to do that, Eddus Brandt,” Abbi spoke, stepping out from behind the tree she stood by

Eddus lowered his foot to the ground beside his other one. Glancing right and left, he saw nothing but the clearing and the trees that lined it in front of him. Slowly, he turned around.

“Abbi...?”