A Day with the Kid
Matt Markham
Class of 2014
It was a beautiful day in Central Park. The sun was shining, families strolled by observing my
beautiful, but shedding hair. It would grow back in a few months. It did this every year. I proudly took my
position along the concrete path that ran around the entirety of the park. My spot was best because I
could always look across the park and see children playing baseball. It was a wonderful game to watch.
However, the game I always loved to be a part of was hide n’ go seek.
At the ball fields, some little league games were taking place. I could see the families gather
along the gray fences to watch their sons play ball. As always, they let the younger children scatter
about the open, green area surrounding the ball field. This is when I usually got to play hide n’ go seek.
This was the only time I understood what being a human is like.
I could see the children swarm together to discuss the rules and regulations. As usual, I couldn’t
hear what they were saying, but I knew what they were saying. The Counter must close his eyes and
count 60 Mississippi’s. Then, and only then, can the Counter open his eyes and sprint about the park
searching for the other children. Once he has found another child, he must tag him in order for a new
game to begin. The new Counter is the child that is tagged. I had seen and played this game so many
times!
The children soon broke their huddle and scattered, leaving one lonely child where they had
once huddled together. I could see all the children, running as quickly as they could. One of the children
began running directly towards me. I knew what this meant. I was one of the best hiding sots in the park.
This wasn’t the first time a child had come to hide in me.
By the time the Counter yelled “41 Mississippi!”, the child had reached my feet. He reached for
one of my limbs to lift himself up off the ground and into my hair. Although it was thinning out, my hair
was still very protective of those trying to hide from the Counter. The child quickly grabbed limb after
limb, trying to get as deep into my hair as possible. I could feel the urgency if this child to get away and
make it impossible to be seen by the naked eye.
Gradually, the child stopped climbing, coming to rest in a couple of my arms high above the
ground. He laid himself out and became relaxed. I could feel the tension go away as the child drifted off
into another planet.
I continued watching the Counter as he had already found a victim to chase and to tag. They ran
around the field, rolling, sliding, juking, and sprinting to avoid being tagged. However, the Counter came
out victorious as he tagged the little boy on the arm, ending the game.
It was the only game they played because the baseball game had reached the last inning. All the
children returned to their families’ side to prepare for the trip home. The little boy who had climbed into
my hair, however, still laid in my limbs, peacefully alone in his own little world.
The baseball game concluded, and all the families left the park. The little boy still laid calmly
in my arms though. I could see his family leaving the park, unaware that their little boy was stuck in a
game of hide n’ go seek.
I could see the family get into their SUV and drive away. And as this happened, the little boy in my
arms began to stir. I could feel him using my limbs to get down my body and out of my hair.
He seemed to make it with ease for some time until he quickly came to a stop. The child began
screaming and crying, unsure what to do.
“Mommy!” he screamed. “Mommy! Mommy! Help me, Mommy! I’m stuck! Help me!” he continued
screaming and crying.
Many people could see this distress in the little boy but were too busy and caught up in
their own lives that they passed him by. However, in the distance, I could see a young couple with
their dog slowly making their way towards me and the little boy. They were still out of range to
hear the little boy’s screams and seemed to be on a date.
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