Chapter 5: A Walk in Frick Park
One mild last Saturday of September 2022, I met up with my childhood friends Sarah, James, and Henri, along with some of my other best friends Alex Russo, Justin Evans, Max Greenwald, Carly Shay, and Spencer Puckett, as well as Carly's stepdad, Freddie Benson, at the Environmental Center in Frick Park for a hike. "Hi, guys!" I greeted my friends. "Hi, Angel!" Sarah greeted back. We jammed out to Kate Bush, Lizzo, NSYNC, and 98 Degrees on our walk. "Isn't fall a beautiful season, guys?" I asked. "Oh yes," Sarah replied. "Fall is my favorite season." "I can't wait for winter," Henri stated. "I miss summer already," James stated. "I don't," Sarah stated. "I remember when we took a walk in Highland Park on your birthday and it was super hot!" "Your 34th birthday was the polar opposite of your 16th birthday when it was cool and damp and we celebrated with a drive to the car store and Pizza Hut in Cheswick," I stated. "Well, Pizza Hut doesn't have a s'more birthday cake," James stated. "But, Fox's Pizza has a s'more cookie pie," I stated. "I don't think that I have ever eaten Fox's Pizza before," James stated. "Is it good?" "Certainly," I replied. "Wow, we are walking the Falls Ravine trail and the Riverview trail," Henri stated. "Do you think that we should have worn all black clothes and shoes to blend into the woods?" Henri asked. "Well, the woods is much bigger, Henri," James pointed out. "We only did that to blend into an all-black classroom, which is much, much smaller." "Are you sure we know where we are going, Spencer?" Carly asked. "I have never hiked this trail of the woods before unlike everybody else." "We should be fine, Carly," Spencer replied. "I actually studied this trail on a map before, and I know exactly what trail we are hiking," Mr. Benson replied. "I am worried that an old enemy from Natrona Heights, Nevel, may show up in the woods," Carly stated. "He does not live in Squirrel Hill, so there is nothing to worry about," I stated. For a moment, we got lost and scared as we headed through deep trails until we found... people with dogs and Alex, Justin, and Max? They were already playing at the playground with 4 of our female clients Hannah Mifflin, Isabella Black, Grace Luster, and Lauren Bennett. "We have found some activities to do with the girls here at Frick Park," Alex stated. "This is almost like the summer between our junior and senior year of high school when I tried these new activities," Max added. "Aren't you guys forgetting something?" I asked. "What did we forget?" Justin asked. "Your annual band trips around Memorial Day weekend," I pointed out. "We can talk about those another time," Justin stated. The games we played were Who Is Most Likely To?, What Is On Your Phone?, a photo scavenger hunt, and a selfie scavenger hunt. Then, they talked about the time that they were all Discovery Kids of Pennsylvania 4 summers ago and shared a compilation of articles that they wrote. Pretty soon, it was time for all of us to go home. "Thanks for a great day, everyone!" I thanked my friends. "You're welcome, Angel," Sarah replied. "Good night, guys!" "Good night!"