Thoughts and Memories

Flash Fiction

Thoughts and Memories

I grew up in a swamp. I mean we had a house and lived on a street, but behind us and on both sides, swamp. During dry weather we had a backyard! We could go out, and our mother had gardens. There was a small pond behind them where our ducks swam. It was lovely.

When it rained the pond got bigger quickly. Depending on the season, we still had some backyard, not much. And the back of the pond tended to cross the small boundary, and meld into the bigger swamp beyond. We knew it would get smaller as soon as the rain stopped, but the critters in the swamp thought they had gotten a big surprise! Suddenly our little pond was not only over filled with water, but also full of critters we had not invited.

The ducks never seemed to mind, more fish and more frogs to chase! They tended to get rowdy about it, it looked like they were having fun! Until a snake or two showed up. I was always happy that the ducks seemed to know that snakes were something to stay clear of!

I often think about that house I grew up in. I went from kindergarten to graduating high school, and then some, before I got my own place, my husband, my kids. Eventually we’d all moved out. The younger three, to other states even. My parents felt they didn’t need such a big house anymore (let alone the swamps) and moved into an apartment uptown. I visited often, but didn’t need to go by the house to get there, so I kind of lost track of it.

I wonder if it’s still there, in the swamp… fifty years later now. I think I might just drive over and see! Woo woo!