Winding Ways

Genre: Vignette
Summary: Just a little snippet inspired by a park nearby
Words: 149

Whoever planned that little park had wanted it to seem as big as possible. The paths curve between shrubs and below trees; open space is scarce to hide the view of the tall buildings surrounding it.

The place has birds and squirrels and even bunnies — if there are foxes, too, they do a better job of staying out of sight — and if you take the right turn, you arrive at a pond with water lilies and an old carp rather than a playground.

And if it seems like that right turn is not always in the same place, it’s a trick of your memory, or a sign that the planner was very clever.

And if the sound of cars seems to disappear, it’s the rustling of leaves in the wind covering it.

You still might want to retrace your steps carefully if that happens. Just in case it isn’t.