Week 6 Prompts

26. You haven't been there since you were little. Now you go back....


I walk past the jungle gym, with the un-cut grass underneath, the name fits. When I arrive at the end of the yard, I search for the path. I know where it is supposed to be, but it's overgrown and invisible now. I still walk where it once was, my feet remembering every step like I was there yesterday. When I arrive in the clearing, a pile of wood is sitting in the spot where the fort used it be. I can make out the words, 'He Man Woman Haters' written in green paint on one of the boards. It reminds me of how naive I was when I was young.
My brothers conned me into helping build it. It was awesome. We made it out of scrap wood laying around the yard. It was about four feet tall, with a working door and lock. In hindsight the lock probably wasn't the best idea. It had a loft inside and the walls were filled with graffiti that I didn't understand. The floor was made of pine needles that we piled up creating our beds. We also made pathways out of them all through the surrounding woods to make a little town. When it was all finished, we made countless trips to and from the house hauling army men, sleeping bags, lanterns, magazines, and other necessities. Then at long last, it was complete, and they wouldn't let me in. They said I had to be a general. I was but a private.

28. A picture postcard view and you hate it, because postcards belong to anyone with the money to buy one. If the tourists ever got past the obvious, they'd see what you see....

I've driven past it so many times I don't even notice it anymore. From anywhere on main street you can look across the river and see one of the most beautiful bridges in Maine. About 50 feet beyond it is the one they built to replace it. People come from miles around to drive across the new cabled bridge, or go to the top of the observatory. I have to admit, it is modern and sleek but there is no emotion behind it. It is cold and lifeless, which completely contradicts the natural beauty that surrounds it. On either side, Maine foliage warms the atmosphere. Underneath, a body of water that rivals most. The old bridge used to compliment nature, not contrast it. It was a green, classic suspension bridge with as much character as bugs bunny. It seemed to melt into the background while still maintaining it's charm. Now it's a disintegrating side note the the massive eyesore.

29. When you finally arrived, it was nothing like you imagined....

Who goes to disney without children? I guess I do. I'm expecting to be surrounded by cheesy songs, and screaming children everywhere. I imagine being served juice boxes and carrot sticks. Everyone is always raving about how 'magical' it is, but I don't really expect it to be. More like sickeningly upbeat.
On the way to our resort, we are forced to watch a video about checking in and out that features happy-go-lucky cartoon characters. There is already a crying baby in the seat next to me. Here we go.
Then we arrive at the resort. It is far from the giant bouncy castle I expected. More like a sophisticated lodge that reminds me of camps back in maine, but much more expensive. The front desk attendant tells us to keep a look out for mickey mouse heads around and to keep count. When I start to spot them,  they are astonishingly un-cartoony. I thought it would be easy to find them. Giant shiny mickeys staring you in the face at every turn. When in reality, they are well hidden and incorperated in unsuspecting places. In the bedspread and carpet, carved into the intricate wooden bedframe.
From the balcony of our room you can see out across the lake, which has a deceivingly ocean-like beach front. I will be down there by the end of the day in my bikini pretending it's the Bahamas. The pool is directly below and it is filled with children as I expected, but there is also pool-side bar that is more my style. I pick up the pamphlet on the bedside stand and see that there is a 4 star restaurant downstairs along with two others that don't look that bad either.
So much for carrot sticks and juice boxes.