Playground

by Aron Beauregard

The blocks read: YOU HELP ME, I HELP YOU. Her salty face was too roasted for emotion. Donnie reshuffled the cubes one final time. The blocks read: I BE BACK. Donnie turned away from Tanya and pulled himself out of the sandbox. He dusted off the many dirt particles that clung to him, then took hold of the ropes at the bottom of the colossal tower. “Be—Be careful,” Tanya said. She was unsure what other words she could offer him. While she didn’t like the idea of him climbing up the sadistic structure, who was she to stop him? Donnie turned to her and nodded his head. Looking back to the rough rope in his hand, he readied himself. But before he could pull himself up, the crackle from the loudspeaker gave way. A gruff voice manifested, giving Tanya and Donnie a stern pair of instructions. “Don’t climb it. Just stay where you are,” Rock said. “The game’s over. I’m gonna let you out.”

Shit Rock is turning into my favorite character.