Page 194 of Seasons of Love
“What kind of person wants to destroy a children’s playground to build a parking lot?” Tyler asks.
The woman sticks up her nose. “The parking lot is essential to the development of our town. Everything is growing, and there isn’t enough space for all the cars.”
“Then build it elsewhere. What makes you think people will want to park this far from the town center, anyway?” he argues back.
“Hello, Mrs. Martin. It’s me, from the grocery store, remember?” I ask, trying to keep my voice calm. The woman is a homophobic bitch, but her gaydar must be broken because she’s always nice to me at the grocery store.
“Milo, what are you doing here with these people?”
“Mrs. Martin, I live here. This is where I grew up, and this playground is where I used to play. I have a baby daughter who I hope will one day play here too.”
She wavers for a moment but stands her ground. “We need a parking lot. This land belongs to the town, and the project must go forward. Isn’t it true that, until recently, this playground was abandoned?”
“Mrs. Martin, families fight, but they always come back together. That’s what’s happened to this community through no fault of their own. Society and people with money ruined these people’s lives. It’s taken a long time, but we’re coming together now. You are a mother. Surely you must understand.”
Something passes through her eyes and her whole demeanor changes.
“Family can also lie and betray you and doesn’t always deserve forgiveness.”
“Are you describing yourself, Mrs. Martin?” Levi says, coming from behind me. “You’ve lied and betrayed your family. You’ve ruined people’s lives, but that’s not enough. Now you also want to ruin the lives of people who have never done you harm?”
She sniggers. “I should have known you’d be involved in this.”
A police siren silences everyone. The car stops, and right behind it, there’s another car.
Both a police officer and the mayor get out.
Everyone speaks simultaneously until the police officer uses a megaphone to tell everyone to keep quiet.
The mayor comes over to where we’re standing.
“May I speak to Mr. Tyler David?”
Tyler comes forward. “That’s me, Mr. Mayor.”
“Mr. David, here’s some paperwork for you to keep. It’s redacted to protect the identity of the person who has completed the purchase of the land on behalf of the community.”
“What does that mean?” Tyler asks.
“It means, Mr. David, that the land where the playground sits is now yours, with the condition that it remains a playground for the children of this community.”
“I’m sorry. What now?” Tyler takes the envelope from the mayor. He looks as confused as everyone else around.
“Read the paperwork, Mr. David. It’s all in there.”
“Hold on, Mr. Mayor,” Mrs. Martin says. “At the last meeting, the purchase of the land for the parking lot was a done deal.”
“Mrs. Martin, I’m not at liberty to discuss details, but the buyer has made a generous offer the town could not refuse. I am sure we can find other locations within our town to build the parking lot.”
The mayor returns to his car, and the police give a disperse order.
Slowly, people either leave or return to working on the playground.
Florrie comes over and tells me I should go home. Someone’s waiting for me. Sara’s at home too.
Ellis.
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