Jessie's Journal (4/22/26) (Patreon)
Content
Dear Journal:
I’ve gotten up early to walk the past few mornings. I like it better before the sun, and the people come out. It’s cool and quiet. I only walk a mile or so, but enough to get my heart and legs pumping.
Oh, one last tale from the weekend. Sunday morning, I walked back to the park (mom and dad were at church, and Michelle was still asleep). I forgot my phone and, by the time I realized it, I was a hundred yards from the house. I didn’t feel like going back, so I pressed on without it. I thought it would suck not having my music, but it was kind of nice just listening to the birds and the breeze.
Two girls were playing on the playground. I could tell right away they were sisters. One, a pudgy little thing, kept running after the other, incessantly yelling, “Mia, wait!” while the older child (Mia, presumably) ignored her, racing around the monkey bars and up and down the slide. I felt bad for the younger girl. All she wanted to do was spend time with her sister, but was instead forced into a cruel game of catch me if you can.
Before long, I was getting stink-eyed by the girls’ mother, who sat reading on a nearby bench. Apparently, a teenager in the park without a cellphone was suspicious. Anyway, I didn’t want to get added to the neighborhood watch list, so I left.
I walked on, feeling sad. I wasn’t sure why. For the little girl? Society? Myself? I was still ruminating on things when I stopped by Starbucks. I got a tea for myself and, in the spirit of sisterly love, a venti Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino for Michelle.
If I’m ever going to catch the perennial “it” girl in our little familial game of tag, I’m going to need to slow her down some!
--Jessie