After School

“Can we go to the park?” I asked my mom. “Can we go after school?”
“We can,” she said. “Don’t forget to bring your skates.”
“I won’t,” I promised. Skating is the thing I like best about the park.

All day long I think about the park. I dream. I plan. I am hoping I will see my friend. The day seemed so long.

“Hurry up, day!” I hear myself say. “Hurry up and get to 3:00. I want to go to the park.”

My mother is waiting after school. My sisters and I hop into the car. We are happy. We all love the park.

“Guess what?” Mom asks.
“What?” we all say at the same time.
“I stopped and got us a bucket of chicken.”
“Yes!” we shouted. “Did you remember the biscuits?”
“The biscuits, yes. The cold slaw, yes. The macaroni, yes. I have them all.”
“Mom, you are the greatest!” we cried.
“Well, munchkins. I don’t know about that, but I want to get to the park. I can hear my skates calling my name. Let’s go!”
“We are with you, Mom. Drive on!”