I had completed running my errands and went to Wire Park to attend my granddaughter’s 40th birthday party. I knew I was going to be a little early but it was a beautiful day so I decided that I would find a bench to sit on and just people watch until it was time to go to the party. I found a nice shaded spot outside a Mexican restaurant and took a seat.
Wire Park is a mixed-use development that has become so common today. It has apartments, condos, townhouses, restaurants, shops, and specialty businesses. It also has a playground for children, a stage for concerts, a library, cornhole games, and plenty of green space to relax. So, people are drawn to this special place just to gather and enjoy the family atmosphere.
From my seat, I could see people eating in the outdoor spaces, children playing on the playground, and folks just walking around and enjoying the day.
Suddenly, I noticed a cute little blonde-haired girl on a tiny bicycle looking at me. Without any warning, she scooted toward me and growled as loud as she could. Well, I knew exactly what to do – I pretended to be very scared. She giggled and rewarded me with the sweetest smile. And now, the game was on. She backed up a little and came at me again, growling all the way. Once again I reacted in “fear” much to her delight. She did this about five times so I decided to change the game. She came at me growling and I growled back. Well, that made her twice as happy. So, there we were – her scooting toward me on her bicycle and growling and me growling back as we both laughed.
Finally, her mom came over from the restaurant and told her it was time to stop. The little blonde hair waved in the breeze as she shook her head “no” and continued to growl at me. Mom insisted, apologizing to me. I let her know it was okay – I didn’t mind at all.
It was time for me to get to the party so I leaned forward and said to the little girl, “Thank you for playing with me. I sure had a good time.”
As I walked away, I was so happy. For a little while, all the adult cares and worries disappeared. I got to be a kid again. And most importantly, I made a little girl laugh and smile over silly, innocent fun. So, the next time a child growls at you, play along – I promise it will make your day special.
