The grit of the skateboard beneath her sneakers; the wind through her ponytail; fingers sticky sweet, remembering the last hour’s ice pop.
Rolling over the cracked sidewalk—past familiar streets, homes, yards. Her fourth trip around the neighborhood this afternoon.
And then, the toddler in the sandbox. In the yard. Alone, for the first time today.
“Hey, kid.”
The small blonde head turns; lips, juice-stained.
“You wanna see my puppy?”
Red lips split wide—a clown’s smile.
“Don’t tell your mom.”
Then nodding, toddling, fingers extending.
She thumbs the rock hidden in her overalls. Clenches. Withdraws.
Just like a little leaguer.
I am missing something. Who had the rock, the toddler or the skateboarder? Why did they have the rock?
I presume the skateboarder had the rock in her pocket and as she’s been round the neighbourhood 4 times and this is the first time the toddler has been alone I suspect the toddler will come to harm!
A tale suddenly tense. ‘Don’t tell your mom’ then ‘Thumbs the rock’. Super.
Oh I think I saw this on the 11:59 forums! Congrats on getting it picked up. A wonderfully evil little tale. The end line always makes me think she’s been turned away from Little League and is on a “I’ll show them” rampage.