Seattle – 1985
"Mommy! Mommy!" I called, as I ran into her bedroom as fast as my seven year-old feet could carry me. I pushed the door open to reveal a comforter covered lump in my mother's bed. "Mommy! You're home!" I yell, rushing in and launching myself onto the lump, earning a grunt from below me as I land.
"Meredith, what did I tell you about knocking on the door?"
"That I should knock before entering."
"Right."
"I did knock mommy, you didn't answer."
"Which meant I didn't want you to come in."
"Oh…" I said softly. "I'm sorry."
"It's ok," she told me, wrapping her arms around me in an awkward hug. "You just missed me, right?"
"Yeah," I told her quietly. "We're going on a field trip to the zoo on Friday," I said, my previous excitement returning. "And…and they opened the new playground at the park." I finished, beginning to bounce again.
"Meredith…Meredith…" she tried to say, but I was already too excited.
"And Marika said she would take me today. Do you want to go? Please go mommy, please? It will be a lot of fun."
Before she could answer, Marika's shadow appeared in the doorway. A look of horror crossed her face when she saw the scene in front of her. "Sorry Ms. Grey, I tried to catch her." She said nervously.
"It's fine Marika, just…just get her out of here."
"Come on Princess Meri," Marika said, taking my hand, "let's go see this park you tell me about."
"But mommy," I said, my voice trailing off as Marika led me out of the room.
"She's resting sweetie," she responds as she gently shuts the door, "Why don't you get your shoes, and we can walk to the park. Maybe we can stop for ice cream on the way."
"Really?" I ask wide-eyed
"Really, really."
We finally arrived at the park an hour later, ice cream in hand, to find it swarmed with kids. "Wow…" I said, letting out a long breath as we stood at the gate.
"Do you want to go in?" Marika asked me, looking down. "We can go home if you want and I will bring you back when it's less crowded."
I looked away from Marika toward the playground, watching the swarm of kids running around and yelling, and then back to Marika, "Yeah," I replied, a smile crossing my face.
"Ok," she said, smiling back at me, "I'll be right over there," she told me in a calm, caring voice, as she gestured to benches where other parents were gathering, "if you need anything."
"Ok," I told her, excited and the smile never leaving my face as I rushed off to join the other kids.
My eyes darted to the swings and I saw a few empty ones, so I immediately rushed over. I had always loved swings, they made me feel like I was flying. By the time I got there, the empty ones were taken, so I leaned against the pole, waited my turn, and took in the scene around me. I was still in awe of all the people. I hadn't even seen anyone I recognized.
Until I turned back to the swings and saw a boy from my school, "Hi Derek," I called.
"Hi," he replied, cocking his head to the side, as if he was trying to place me. "Want to swing?" He asked as he dragged his feet on the ground.
"Ok," I responded shyly. I walked over to him, careful not to get hit by any of the other swings and sat down, frowning when I realized my feet didn't touch the ground. "Maybe not," I told him, looking up at him from the swing.
"I could push you," he told me.
"Really?"
"Really, really." He said, flashing me a smile I'd never seen anywhere else.