The bright spring morning greets him through the window.
He springs up out of bed like tomorrow will never come, wanting to be outside and be outside forever.
Socks, jeans, the same wrinkled t shirt from yesterday, all thrown on without a thought, not caring if it's on inside or out. A quick brush of the teeth and he's ready. No need to comb his hair, there's no time for silly things like that.
The screen door slams open as he blasts through. No time for breakfast either, no sir. It's time to go. We got to get out of this place as the song says.
He runs, fast as he can. "The fastest runner in the neighborhood" Mr. Meyers would say. He runs between houses, the dogs running along with him behind their fences barking at him.
He runs across the street through the next set of houses and across another street. He's almost there. He can smell the fresh cut grass, hear the water flowing in the creek, gurgling over the rocks and the small waterfall. He can see the entrance. WELCOME TO LITTLE CREEK PARK the sign says. Another sign next to it giving you the rules to live by while visiting. This is his most favorite place in the world.
It's a large park the city had built before he was born. He wasn't sure how long it had been there he just knew it was built just for him. The monkey bars, the park benches, the swings, and in the middle of the park was a huge boulder the city placed there after digging it up while making room for the new library. He sees it. And heads straight for it.
With one jump of his foot, he is halfway up and with the next step he's on top. His arms fly up and with triumph he yells "I'm on top of the world ma!!" as he's bouncing up and down in his best Rocky imitation. With a quick leap he's off again running towards his favorite place he knows is just ahead. His foot slips in the gravel as he more slides than runs around the corner slowing down as he sees it.
It may not be much to most people or mean anything to anyone else, but it does to him. It's been there all of his life. It's grown as he's grown. Not much taller than he was when it was planted but it sure has grown into the most beautiful tree the world has ever seen. Large sprawling limbs with so many leaves creating a shade of cool comfort. He's walks over to it placing his hand on it feeling the rough bark.
His memory begins to flash, his life running past him. He remembers how he used to climb the tree, his first kiss by his first girlfriend was under this tree, you can still see the heart with their initials, forever showing their innocent love.
He stares at the greenest patch of grass under the tree remembering his best friend he laid to rest there. All the sticks he threw and all of them fetched by his best friend, brought back all wet and slobbery.
He loosens his tie, the man with the boy still inside stares up the through the limbs of the tree and remembers. And dreams the dream that is sweet.
