Playground Memories

As planned, the club was to meet up for dinner to discuss any findings. After a vote of hands, we decided to eat at the Firepool Grill & Bar, an American casual dining restaurant. Keeping things simple, we ordered sharing platters for everyone. Loaded nachos, chicken wings, fries, and mozzarella sticks with marinara sauce; it was a comforting selection of staples.

Taking the lead, I disclosed our findings, including a theory I had.

“I think the reason why we’ve had trouble learning the names of the parents is that they aren’t intelligent spirits,” I said.

“You mean they aren’t smart?” Daniel asked.

“No, no, not like that. What I mean is that there are usually two classifications of spirits. Intelligent spirits are ones that you can communicate and directly interact with, such as Duncan, Stella, and Miss Emily. Meanwhile, non-intelligent spirits are referred to as residual spirits/hauntings. These spirits are more like leftover energies from the subject’s life. Think of it like recordings that you can trigger to play with stimuli.”

“That all flew over my head. Can you explain again?” Nick requested.

“Basically, remember when we did the karaoke and spirit box session? I think the spirits we captured were merely residual energy reacting to our actions. When Maple and I danced and sang, so did the stick figures we saw. And what Maple heard on the spirit box could have been residual, too—like past conversations jumbled together.”

My mouth was going dry having explained so much, so I took a hefty chug of water before continuing. “If possible, I want to continue discovering Duncan and Stella’s memories with Maple. Can the rest of you conduct research on their names? Try checking libraries or any local historian.”

Thankfully, everyone agreed to the plan. Due to scheduling conflicts, we decided to communicate any information via a group chat. After finishing our meals and splitting the bill, Maple and I took the spirits with us, while the others headed home.

“It’s getting late, so let’s resume tomorrow if you aren’t busy,” I asked Maple.

“Mmm, I’m not tired yet! I say we visit a park. After all, a playground is sure to produce some childhood memories. Don’t you agree, Duncan and Stella?”

“Rawr!”

“Yes, we do.”

“You two are back already? If that’s the consensus, then let’s do it. Although I don’t know any, so you’ll have to lead the way.”

“Not a problem!” Maple smiled.

* * *

By the time we arrived at the park, it was already dark. There were no families, nor any teens sneaking out; just the four of us and an army of eerie streetlights—their orange lights making me feel tired.

“Is it ok if I rest on the bench for a moment? Just a little nap, that’s all,” I yawned.

“Not yet; we haven’t even played!”

Grasping my hand, Maple dragged me to the playground, jolting me wide awake. Taking a closer look at it, the playground bore an uncanny resemblance to the one at my elementary school. From the wood chip flooring to dilapidated metal equipment, my mind was befuddled and began overlaying elements of the past on top of the present, almost like a near-perfect flashback.

As time reversed,

I remembered them.

The students who were in my class,

Amongst them…

Was a girl.

Maple.

Her golden hair shone in the sunlight as she ran across the playground.

“Can’t catch me!” she yelled to her friends while playing tag.

“How come you’re so fast?” asked one of her peers.

“Because I’m the best of the best, Paige!”

Wait, why did she call her friend that?

Unless…

Was it me?

Did Maple and I already know each other?

Not just as classmates, but as friends…

How could we have forgotten?

“Paige, are you there?” Maple asked.

“Yes, I am! Sorry, I was spacing out.”

“As you usually do?”

“Yeah…”

I explained to her the vision I had. Anticipating the worst, I held my breath, only to discover that she, too, had forgotten that we had met before. I suppose it was only natural. After all, we were only kids. Recalling our memories, Maple and I exchanged stories from our childhood, all the while navigating the jungle gym with the spirits in tow.

“Do you remember the time that there was an actual fire at school?” Maple asked.

“I do. I remember how all the kids were confused and thought it was a false alarm or a drill. Sure was wild back then, huh?”

“Mhm. It was a chilly day too. I was freezing my butt off in my skirt!”

“Then how come you didn’t wear pants?”

“I dunno; maybe I wanted to look cute that day!”

“You two really do remind us of our… parents?”

“Rawr, rawr.”

We turned around to see that Stella and Duncan had paused in their tracks. Seemingly more confident in her voice, Stella continued to speak. “When I see you two hold hands, I can’t help but think back to how they used to.”

“Is there anything else to your memories?” I asked, now crouching down.

“I still can’t recall their names, but I do have an image of playing at the slides and swing set with them.”

“Rawr, rawrrr! Rawr!”

“Duncan says he remembers the same.”

Wanting to recreate the newfound memories, we made our way to the equipment in question, starting with the swings. For a few minutes, Maple pushed each of them separately before swapping places with me.

“Anything new?” I asked once more.

“I think I know their jobs. When they took us to the park, it was usually after they came back from school to pick us up,” Stella answered.

“Were they teachers? If so, what school?”

“I don’t recall. Sorry…”

“Duncan, what about you?”

“Rawr…”

Like before at the pool, they collapsed and went limp.

“Dang, they lose energy as fast as my phone!” Maple said.

“That just sounds like a battery leak to me.”

“Huh!? Is that what it is!? Aghhh, I need to get a new one then!”

“Well, that aside, I think we should return them to Miss Emily for the night,” I suggested.

“Good idea, but before we go, let’s ride the slide together!”

Being honest, the slide looked sketchy. It was a long metal chute that started tubed but ended open. To alleviate my doubts, Maple volunteered to go first. Needless to say, it was a flawless test run, as expected with her luck.

“See, there’s nothing wrong with it! Go give it a try, dear!”

“Fine, I’ll try it. Just one—”

I slipped.

Plummeting down the slide, I came flying out the other end. In fact, I was so fast that I ended up soaring through the air before landing on the hard dirt beyond the playground. As I attempted to pull myself together, my body began to ache, no doubt from the cuts and bruises that I sustained.

“This feels like déjà vu, huh?” I groaned.

“Mhm! Here, let me pull you up!”

After helping me get back on my feet, Maple went over to her car to retrieve a first aid kit.

“Sorry if this burns a lot,” she whispered before applying alcohol to my injuries.

“Nghh! That stings!”

Of course it stung! How else did I think it was going to feel?

Following the alcohol, Maple began covering the areas with a selection of bandages and gauze with tape. But as she did, her hand rubbed against my body, invoking a bodily response that I forgot even existed.

“Haha, that tickles so much!”

“Sorry, Paige! I didn’t mean to make you—”

“No, I love it! It’s making the pain a lot more tolerable. Keep at it!”

“Well, if you say so. But don’t go begging for mercy now!”

“I won’t,” I smiled back.