Though the fluster of the traffic and the dust from the streets thereabout, the park was always quiet and pure thanks to its wideness and vegetation. There were many pathways around it. These pathways were shut off by space, with colorful flowers and grass. These plants were always in order and clipped well.

In the early mornings and the evenings, kids used the many sites: jungle bars, slides and ladders for climbing, playing – all kinds of fun and games. Usually, adults would also lounge around the seats on the border of the park, perhaps having an open picnic or small party.

"Wow! I've been stuck in the house all year!" Bobby announced. "I can't wait to play here! How come you never showed me this place!?" He asked, not really expecting an answer.

Ralph ran off into the park ahead of them, heading for a long concrete tube that was on its side, forming a sort of, mini-tunnel

Shawn was usually too busy to go to the park, let alone take someone else there. But that'd be a downer thing to bring up, so he just laughed. "What do you wanna try first?"

There were a group of boys on the left side of the park, playing catch and laughing, looking all smiles and friendly.

The swing set only had one kid on it, and there were two empty seats available.

Then there was the jungle gym itself, the large tubes intertwining, overlapping with ladders and tires.

"The ball! Let's go play catch!" Bobby said, taking a decisive move towards the kids.

"Sounds good!" Shawn trails after Bobby, more than happy to let him take the lead.

Bobby was completely unphased by meeting new people and ran up to the small group of boys simply by saying 'hey, can we play?'

One boy caught the ball, back towards Bobby and Shawn. Upon hearing the question, he turned around. Shawn watched Bobby's face turn from enthusiasm to a frown.

It was Eddy.

"Oh." Eddy said, as if surprised. "It's you guys." He took a look a the ball and then at Bobby and Shawn. Then he shrugged.

"Sure." He said.

Eric wasn't among the group.

Shawn didn't really have beef with Eddy. If anything, he wanted to be friends with him because maybe that'd make Eric hate him less. So he gave Eddy a grateful look and his friendliest smile. "Thanks!"

To the horror of nearby parents, in the distance, Shawn could hear Ralph say "It has a big nose and it's...it's...it's...a Clown. Then it cuts you're head off!!"


The little kids near Ralph didn't seemed to mind. Some of the younger ones simply repeated

'Yeah!' or 'Cuts your head off.'

The ones Ralphs age started to say things like 'I'll play the clown!' or 'I'll be the knife!'

Shawn looked over at the parents for anyone Mom or Dad might talk to. If Ralph wanted to play a weird game, that was fine, but if he was going to get in trouble, that could turn into a serious problem.

No one seemed to say anything. Other than the slight murmurs of what kind of child would say the things Ralph said, and of course, who could have raised such a boy. But it really wasn't that surprising. Ralph simply was copying what he had seen in real life, and acting it out during his play. It was something Shawn saw other young kids do.

"Summer time. You guys going to the marshmallow roast tonight?" Eddy asked, throwing the ball to another, unknown kid and phrasing the question mostly to Shawn.

"No duh, right?"

"Well..." Shawn surreptitiously shot a look over at Bobby to see whether it looked like something he wanted to do before he answered.

"A marshmallow roast!?" Bobby's eyes lit up. "Wait? Is that Eric kid gonna be there."

"Dunno." Eddy said, throwing the ball to another kid who bobbled it, before managing to catch it. It was clear Eddy had an arm. "I guess if he decides to come, he will. And if not, then not." Eddy answered, nonplussed and seeming a lot more interested in the game of catch.

The kid threw the ball back, but it was a bad throw. Way over Eddy's head. It bounced past Shawn, along the side of the walkway and landed on the grate of a sewer drain. "Oh come on!" Eddy said, annoyed. "That was a terrible throw." He commented.

"You mind getting that since you're closest?" Eddy asked Shawn casually. "I don't trust this kid to get it, he can't even throw it. That throw was so gay."

Shawn shrugged. "Sure!" He wandered off to pick up the ball. Eddy was cool, even though they'd got off on the wrong foot. If only he wasn't friends with Eric...