Park Days

The day would arrive, when I was off of work. We would get in the old blue Ford van and drive for 30 minutes. All three of you were excited, as we drove. Just the thought of the park brought enthusiasm. Your eyes brightened and smiles lit your face, as you leaped from the van. You all ran down the sidewalk to reach the playground. There you swung on the swings, climbed the yellow steps of the slide, and played with the old red and white fire engine. The blue monkey bars were a favorite to climb on. A giant size sand box is where you played for brief times. The train was heard coming around the track. We waved to the train and its' riders as it went by. The whistle blew "choo-choo" as it rounded the corner. It tooted again, as it went through the tunnel. Children could be heard screaming, as the train went through the tunnel. Their voices echoed while they were leaving the tunnel.

We bought tickets to ride the train, carousel, and play putt-putt. We waited down at the gate to get on the train. The three of you would decide where you were going to sit before the train stopped. You got on the train and were excited. You waited on the train to start to move. "Come on lets go," is what all three of you
said. The train would start off slowly. With a click and a clack it would round the curve on the iron rails. Then, down and around it would go. The children on the playground waved as the train clicked, clacked around the area. People in the boats, on the lake, also waved. We all waved back, as everyone on the playground smiled. The children, on the train, waved like they were boasting at getting to ride the train.

"Get ready," Randall and Shandall always said. Here comes the tunnel. Scream loud, "they echoed." As the whistle blew under the tunnel Randall, Shandall, and Daniel screamed. They loved to hear their voices echo back at them. The train would stop, at times, to let the Mallard ducks cross the track. The train driver blew the horn to encourage the ducks to move. The train pass lasted all day. Sometimes they would ride the train several times, in a row, just to get their fill.
All three of them ran to the carousel to get a horse they liked. We waited in line and Shandall loved to pick outher favorite color horse. The music played, as the carousel went around. When the ride was over,the three of them ran to the brown building to get a putter. Beside the building was a putt-putt course. It was a joy to watch the oldest two try to beat each other at putt-putt.

Most of the time, I took a picnic lunch and a cooler of drinks. We ate lunch under the shelter just beyond the putt-putt course. After lunch it was free reign time. Randall and Shandall would go back and forth from the train, to the carousel, to the putt-putt course, or to the playground. I kept up with Daniel. He was younger than they were.
When the day was over and it was time to go home. We loaded the van and headed for home. Silence filled the car, as we drove.