Playground Fun

The first thing that Roxanne wanted to do at the playground was go on the swings.

"I want to go so high I feel like I'm flying, Mummy!" she said excitedly. "I want to know how birds feel!"

Angelina chuckled and followed her daughter over to the wooden swing set, leaving George to keep an eye on Fred. "Okay, Roxie. Let me know when you're ready."

She watched Roxanne jump up onto the seat of the swing and wrap her small fingers around the chains.

"I'm ready, Mummy!" the little girl declared. "Push me!"

Angelina drew back the swing as much as she possibly could before letting go, smiling as her daughter became a soaring blur. Glancing over at the other half of her family, she saw that Fred was scaling the bright metal jungle gym with ease.

Roxanne had nearly swung back towards her again, however, so she quickly focused on getting ready for another push. After a few minutes, her daughter had gradually reached greater and greater heights, and Angelina's arms were beginning to tire.

"I think that's enough pushing, Roxie!" she called.

"But I want to see how high I can go!" Roxanne wailed.

Angelina nodded patiently. "Just swing your legs, sweetheart. Tuck them in when you go backwards and stick them out when you go forwards—there you go! That should allow you to go higher, just give it a little more time."

George caught her eye from the other side of the playground, and she broke into a grin at the same time that he did.

"Your father and I are going to sit on that bench over there," Angelina told her daughter, pointing to her destination as Roxanne went flying forward once more. It would give her a clear view of the little girl, and George would be able to see Fred just fine, too.

George joined her on the bench and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Having fun, Angie?"

"You bet," she laughed. "My arms are killing me."

"Yeah, you got the short end of the stick, eh? Freddie didn't need my help at all," George said.

"Don't rub it in," Angelina said, sticking her tongue out at him. "Anyway, I think Roxie will probably get bored soon enough, and then you can have a turn playing with her."

George heaved a sigh, but Angelina knew that it was done in jest based on the way his eyes twinkled.

"Fine," he said, kissing her cheek. "I'm sure I can handle it."

"Mummy!" Roxanne shouted moments later. "Mummy, help me get down, please. I wanna play in the sandbox!"

George groaned as he got to his feet. "The sandbox? I'm pretty sure I still have sand in my hair from last time!"

Angelina couldn't help the tiny smirk that appeared on her face. She was secretly very glad that she had avoided a similar sandy fate.

WC: 482