The Jazz Festival

"Invalid Item"  2nd place, 8/26/09


"Okay, kids, get your stuff and get in the car. We're ready to go." Sheila lugged the cooler out the side door and set it down near the back of the SUV. She had finally talked her husband, Joe, into going to the August Jazz Festival on the waterfront, mainly because it was free. He normally refused since the temperature was always in the nineties and the park was so crowded. This time, though, with a forecast of the low eighties, he gave in but was still unwilling to contribute much help.

Sheila had packed the cooler with a feast fit for a king. There was fried chicken, potato salad, a cucumber and tomato vinaigrette and a gallon of unsweetened tea.

"Mom, Angie won't give me my Frisbee," Joey yelled as the screen door slammed behind him almost smacking Angie in the face.

"Joe, we are ready to go if you will put the cooler in the car for me. Angie, Joey, you two had better settle down right now."

Angie looked so cute in her little pink shorts and matching top with "princess" written across the front in bright sparkly letters. Sheila had fixed her blonde hair in two ponytails with matching pink ribbons. Having turned six a couple of months ago and ready to start first grade, Sheila suspected Angie was getting a sense of her own power over adults and her brother. Her cuteness drew oohs and ahs, and she was testing everyone's authority.

"Mommy, Joey hit me with the door on purpose," Angie whined as tears welled up in her big blue eyes.

Sheila realized Joey was at a loss to understand his sister. Angie used to be so eager to get along and play with him. He was eight, and he had always been the boss.

"Angie, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were right behind me," Joey said trying to make amends. It seemed to Sheila like he was always giving in to Angie lately.

Finally, everyone was inside the car and ready to go. Joey and Angie couldn't quit picking at each other so Sheila got into the back seat and had Joey sit up front, the normal routine on family outings lately. As the air conditioner cooled down the temperature and the vehicle began to move, the kids quieted down.

"I'm really glad we decided to go, honey. Sorry I wasn't much help, but I'll make it up to you when we get to the park. You can load me down." Joe was really a great husband.

Waterfront Park was around thirty minutes away, and traffic was always heavy in the city of more than 700,000 people. By the time they arrived in mid-morning, the Jazz Festival was well underway. Thousands of colorful blankets were spread over deep green grass with a few shade trees sprinkled here and there for cover for the lucky few. Lawn chairs of all shapes and hues dotted the landscape like growing plants. Moms and dads lounged while children spent their pent up energy throwing Frisbees or kicking soccer balls near the beach areas. Multiple entertainment grandstands graced the eastern end of the park with blankets radiating outward for new arrivals to take the next available space. Roberta Flack and Dave Brubeck were the main attractions with numerous local talent rounding out the program.

Sheila and Joe settled in a vacant area near a duck pond to soak up the sun and listen to the local talent now performing. Grabbing a container of bread Sheila had packed for the purpose, Joey and Angie headed toward the pond to feed the ducks. Sheila and Joe settled in their lawnchairs to enjoy the music.

~~~~~~~~

"Mommy, Mommy wake up. Some lady took Angie to get an ice cream. It's been a long time, and they haven't come back." Joey was frantically pulling on Sheila's arm. Having drifted off to sleep in the warm sunshine, Sheila and Joe woke with a start at Joey's commotion.

With a funny feeling in the pit of her stomach, Sheila asked, "What lady, Joey? Did you know her?"

"No, Mommy. Sh.she just seemed nice and wa..wanted to buy Angie an ice cream," Joey stammered as big tears started to roll down his cheeks. "When's Angie coming back, Mommy?" Joey started to cry in earnest.

"We'll find her, Joey. Show me where you last saw Angie," Joe said with fear creeping into his voice..

Joey quickly grabbed his dad's hand and pulled him toward the duck pond. As they all neared the water's edge, Sheila heard the sweetest sound she could have imagined.

"Mommy, Mommy, I'm coming." Angie's little pink-sandaled feet were flying over the grass toward her family. With a blotchy red face and ice cream stuck to her glittery "princess", she jumped into her mom's waiting arms. They all sank down on the sandy shore as the words tumbled out of Angie.

"Mommy, a lady got me an ice cream and then she wanted me to get in her car. I remembered what you told me about never getting in a car with strangers. I didn't even thank her for the ice cream. I just ran away. I was scared I couldn't find you." Angie started crying so hard she couldn't say anymore.

"You did exactly the right thing, sweetie. I know you won't ever go off with a stranger again. We love you, sweetie."

Sheila realized how lucky they had been and resolved never to take her eyes off her kids again when they were in public. Carrying Angie, Sheila, Joe and Joey walked back to their blanket and sat down. Sheila washed Angie's face with a cloth from the cooler, and soon she was the precocious little girl she had been before.

"I'm starved. How about you guys?" Joe asked as he dug out the fried chicken.