The Sandbox CHAPTER 3

Gloomy clouds darker than beneath my bed began to cover the sun. Droplets of rain start to poke at my face. I stare as well wondering why I didn’t see this coming. Grown ups can. Kids can’t.

“I.. I need to go home now,” Alexi anxiously exclaims.

“Alexi, wait!” I surprisingly shout out. “Don’t go. It’s just a little rain.”

“I’m sorry. I have to go. My mom will get mad at me.” Alexi picks up her pail and shovel ready to head home.

“Haven’t you ever played in the rain before,” I ask. “It’s really fun. It’s also easier to build sand castles when the sand is wet.”

Alexi pauses her retreating motion. Is my persuasion working? She looks at me still with a worried face.

“I’m sure it’s fun. But I can’t. This is a new dress and I’m not allowed to get it wet.”

I raise my eyebrow. She starts her retreat again back home.

“It was nice to meet you, Jacob. See you around.”

“Well, you know where to find me,” I tell her with a whitewashed tone.

And with that, she disappears into neighborhood.

For five minutes I stand motionless. Confused. About what happened. About what I’m thinking. About what I’m feeling.

Will I ever see her again? Why am I asking this? I meet different kids all the time here, and I’ve never wondered if I’ll see any one of them again. But why did she have to go?

“Agh!” I expressed to myself. Regardless of her leaving, this is still a very nice day for me. Said hello to a girl, and now, its raining on the playground.

With that, I jump and skip around the sand box. The rain embraces me and I stretch out my arms trying to embrace it back.

It’s a joy. A lot of joy. A little too much. I wish I could have shared this fun.

I wish I could have shared this with Alexi. Her quick getaway strikes me again.

I halt my excitement and sit back down on my favorite swing vacated now that it’s raining. I exhale wondering once more if I’ll ever see Alexi again. As usual, I observe the surrounding while swinging.

All of the other kids have also gone home. All except for two kids taking shelter under slide. They’re playing rock-paper-scissors. I stare at them laughing at each other. Good for them.

I look the other way. Towards the path were Alexi had disappeared into going home. At the end of the path are houses. Good families live there. All with clean lawns. All with nice curtains.

One of the house’s curtains are swaying open. I stare to find out why. I’m a kid. I’m always curious.

A head peaks through. I can’t quite make out the face clearly because of the rain.

But it’s a girl. I can tell because she just sat along the ledge of the window. She’s wearing a beautiful green dress…



End Chapter 3.