Brianna Neier

The Park Bench

I was 10 years old when I met the man who would change my life forever. It was a beautiful summer afternoon in the year 1976, Mom and I had just moved to a new town and I was excited to play at the neighborhood park for the first time. The playground equipment was rusted and dull, much like the rest of the community, but I was still determined to make the best out of it. While running to the swing set, I was startled by a figure of middle-aged man sitting on the park bench. I stopped to say hello and the man looked up slowly with a sad smile and nodded his head. I made my way to the swings but found myself curious about this man. He seemed to be in his own world, focusing solely on writing in the little black book in front of him. About an hour had passed when mom told me that it was time to leave. I looked in the direction of the man but I was too intimated to say goodbye.