- Kidd Spring Park
- The remnants of the dense forestry are located in here, as paths lead from the woods to the more entertaining features of the park. A jungle gym, complete with a small clubhouse and slides make up a play area designated for children, as do a few sandboxes. A community rec center can also be found in the park.
Separating the trees from the busier points of the park is small lake. During the summer months, a life guard can be found on duty so swimming is allowed, and there is also a small dock from which paddle boats and kayaks are available for rent.
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The period before dusk is a time for walks in the park with pets and family. It's a time for parents to sit down and relax from their stressful busy days and spend time with their little ones.
Prudence and Grace have been at the Kidd Spring Park for a while. It's a bit far from home, but Pru likes giving Grace a great deal of time outdoors. Better than being cramped up in their small apartment with a sitter all day and night.
Sitting on the edge of the sandbox, she watches her daughter drive a little yellow Tonka(tm) truck through the sand, scooping some up to plop into the back of it.
~
The period before dusk is a great time for family fun which is exactly the goal of one particular Mayoral candidate. He has no family around to speak of, not by blood, but he does have a family to look out for. Practice is just ending for the children that he coaches in baseball. Each one is given a high five and praise for their hard work before being sent off with their parents. Today Zane is not a man attempting to gain a seat in office. He is a man wearing shorts, a tee shirt and a baseball cap. Even the children that he hasn't come to coach are given attention, especially those that tend to hang off of him and beg to play. One such little boy is taken under arm and carried around as if a parcel until he's handed off to his mother. It may seem out of place for a single man to surround himself with children but none who know him seem to mind.
~
The noise from those leaving the baseball field draw Prudence's attention for a moment. Only a moment. She glances back to see what the fuss is about, and when she looks to the sandbox once more, Grace is gone.
All the color drains from her face.
"Grace?" Standing, she dusts her hands upon her denim shorts and glances around. "~Grace~!" Her voice hasn't hit a panicked pitch yet, but she's now frantically looking at every blond little head she can find.
Until she sees the toddler toddling right near to being underfoot to the Mayoral candidate.
~
The name being called is heard quite clearly, almost enough for him to turn and look. There is no panic that he can hear but these things can turn into a panicked situation quickly enough. As he turns Zane nearly does step into the small child but very quickly catches himself. "Well, hey there." He tries to lower himself to her height as best he can which leaves him crouched with one leg on the ground. A quick assessment of who might be missing a child is made before he looks back to her. "Grace?" It is a shot in the dark but he'll make it. Not once does he actually reach out for an unfamiliar child. Zane may not be a true man of politics but he is aware of what could be taken the wrong way.
~
Grace just squeals and laughs, nodding her head. Then she sticks her moist thumb out to jab it at the man's face. Not that her little arms will reach him but she makes the attempt.
Spotting that her daughter has finally stopped somewhere, Prudence runs over nearly tripping over a double-dutch game. She manages to make a leap at the last second that brings her into and then out of the ropes without a misstep.
"Grace! You can't run off like that. You know better. What are you thinking?" The words are those of a very worried parent, no anger in them whatsoever. Grabbing the little girl by the shoulders, she spins her around gently and hugs the child to her. "Don't scare mommy like that, okay?"
~
The laugh is met with a hearty one from the man. "Oh, and you like to share, too? That's good." He doesn't actually try to avoid the thumb but does look back to the worried parent. The near accident is avoided and she's soon with them. So the mother and daughter are allowed their moment as Zane stands. It's in that moment that he actually looks at Grace. A bit young but nearly where his daughter would be at the moment. This makes him fall silent as he attempts to push past his thoughts. "Adorable girl," he finally says even though he'd rather not interrupt.
~
The grip of parental fear subsides when someone is speaking to her. Pru stands up, lifting the little girl with her and setting her on her left hip.
"You hear that, Gracie? You're adorable." Brushing some of the light curls out of her daughter's face, the woman smiles. "She can be when she is not running amok through the park and giving me a heart attack."
Thanks to the cried name moments ago, they've garnered a bit of an audience. This doesn't seem to phase Pru at all. "Thanks for occupying her so she couldn't get into any more trouble, Mr. Wright."
~
He could comment further about families but he decides it best not to. There are far too many bad roads that the conversation could go down. He does dare to reach out now that she's in her mother's arms. Zane pinches extremely lightly at Grace's cheeks if she'll allow it. "It's the least that I could do although I don't really think I had much of a choice. She seems rather intent on sharing, this one." Even if it means germs, spit and diseases. He'd face them all. "This is a relatively safe area, honestly. I'm sure she wouldn't have gotten far without someone stopping to help you." This is why he loves his community.
~
There are more squeals from the little girl, her tiny fists moving to try and swat at the pinch in a playful way.
"I don't doubt the safety of the park, but I still don't want her in the habit of wandering off." Prudence eyes the little girl, then smiles back at the man. "Still you were a nice distraction in her path. Even if she meant to share her thumb with you." A new game Grace has developed as she breaks out of her thumbsucking phase.
"I should apologize for staring, I'm just not at all used to seeing you dressed for playing baseball."
~
The squeals cause him to place his head atop her head and ruffle the hair found there. It's almost second nature and he doesn't stop to think about his actions. "It's a very nice thumb. I just don't think it can be shared the way she'd have it be." Zane then falls back slightly in order to look around to ensure that his children have all indeed made it back to their parents safely. Only her last words bring him back from his purposeful break in attention. A chuckle is made as he shakes his head. "Suits have never been my strong point. Jeans and a ball cap for me. Although I didn't notice any staring." He's used to it these days anyway.
~
"I wasn't talking so much about the suits in the posters," Prudence points out, shifting her weight a little as Grace moves to bury her tiny little face against her mother's shoulder.
"I meant more the business casual stuff you generally wear to church." Though she generally sits at the back in case the little one throws a tantrum. Much easier to make a discreet exit that way.
~
He would look sheepish if he hadn't already been working on his game face. In truth it really isn't something to feel sheepish about. Besides, it isn't as if the conclusion he jumped to is unwarranted. "Oh. That's mostly because they tend to frown on me wearing my work clothes to church." This is said with a hearty laugh though it does make Zane wonder just how many people do pay attention to him at church. Life isn't going to be nearly as simple as it was, not for a long time. If ever. "I'm sorry; I don't believe that we've formally met before. I feel somewhat awkward since you seem to know my name and all, Misses…?"
~
"Foster," she offers. "Pru Foster." Looking down at her little girl, she nuzzles the curls atop her head and smiles. "This little charmer is Grace." The child giggles and pulls at her momma's hair playfully in return. "I honestly don't think they'd care overly much what you wore to church, as long as you were there." On the one hand it means membership is up, on the other it means they get publicity thanks to a ~local celebrity~ being in attendance.
"And it's just Miss Foster," she adds in as an afterthought.
~
"Yes, well, I may not be the most sophisticated man out there but I think my mother would have a heart attack if she saw me walk into church wearing anything less than what I do." This is actually a good thing to Zane, a fond memory of his mother. "Grace. Well, if meeting you hasn't made my day." Again he attempts to place a hand on her head and ruffle her curls before taking on a more serious note. "I apologize. Deeply." Questions aren't going to be asked as he is well familiar with that territory. "Still, it's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Foster. I'm not certain how I haven't run into you sooner."
~
Curls ruffled, a peal of laughter bubbling up from the young charmer. Grace then buries her face against her mother's chest again and peers at the man somewhat shyly.
"We hide at the back of the church," Prudence offers with a smile. "Just in case Gracie here decides she wants to scream rather than listen quietly to the good reverend." The apology has her normally good-natured smile faltering momentarily. "It's alright," she says as she brings the smile back. "We manage." It's all she can do these days, but she does it.
~
"I've heard that phrase before." This is said more to himself than anything. Managing is something that he's good at. Dwelling on the issue could be so easy but Zane does his best to remain in high spirits in public. "Oh, you wouldn't scream in church, would you Grace? Maybe next time you both would like to sit up front with me so you can hear him real well?" The question is posed to Grace but eventually he moves his eyes to meet Pru's. "Well, if you ever need anything will you let me know? I can't work miracles in the kitchen but I am pretty good with my hands." In the repair sense, even if it may not come out sounding that way.
~
Dwelling on the issue is not something Prudence can afford to do. Not with a rambunctious little girl to take care of.
Grace eyes the man, her own eyes big and round. Blinking at him twice. She starts to nod her head, then shakes it, then nods it again.
The actions cause Pru to laugh and ruffle hair again. "Oh, you silly little goose." Smiling at her daughter she says, "Would you like to sit with Mr. Wright in church on Sunday? You can share your book with him if you promise to sit like a good little girl…" When Grace nods, the woman smiles. "We appreciate the offer, Mr. Wright. That's mighty nice of you." Considering he doesn't really know them that well. "I don't know if we need much handy-work done. The landlord takes care of most of the issues we have at the apartment." She glances at Grace once more, then to the man. "The name of a reputable babysitter would be handy. There are times when I have things to do for the church, and I don't necessarily like bringing her with me since I can't keep my eye on her."
~
Dwelling is all the man had for quite some time. Had his daughter been born it might have been different. This meeting will give him something to think about when he returns to his fortress of solitude. "It would be nice, and I did it a bit for myself, too. Usually I'm surrounded by sour-faced elderly women who, while they are wonderful people, don't always make for the best company." Yes, Zane is turning this into almost a favor for him. "Babysitters I can help with, though. There are a few good ones locally. I can get you their names and contact information. The parents that I work with aren't shy about saying who is good and who isn't. Of course I would offer but with my schedules these days it's hard to tell when I'd be able to."
~
"Just don't be too surprised if we jump up and need to leave immediately," Prudence warns. Grace isn't as bad with the tantrums as she used to be, but the chance still exists. "We wouldn't want to embarrass you."
Grace issues a ~huge~ yawn, and nestles in against her mother, who bounces her a little just to redistribute the little girl's weight.
"That would be ~wonderful~ actually. Our usual sitter, Molly, is going back to school at the end of the month and I haven't had a whole lot of time to sit down and interview anyone new." Since the job is generally an all day type thing while Pru's at work. "Barring that, if you know anyone at the church that runs a daycare service I think we could manage that." At least for a little while, since daycare is generally more expensive.
~
He again laughs at what he hears. "That would be Grace acting her age. Children are gifts, not something to be embarrassed by. It would be an honor to have you both sit with me, tantrums or not." Zane already begins to consider which direction to send her in. "It's good to know the person you're trusting to care for your child before you actually do so. I'll get you the information soon." The church is a good way to get it to her and he'll have a good bit of data for her to go through. It will give him something constructive to do with his time while at home. "But it looks like someone needs to get home." He hasn't actually cared for a girl her age before but even a non-parent can read certain things.
~
Petting her hand over Grace's hair, Prudence nods. "Thankfully," she says with a smile. "The weather has been keeping her up at night. Maybe tonight she'll manage to sleep through." Which means she herself will actually be getting some decent amount of sleep. "I really appreciate the help. I don't know if we can offer much in way of return though." Maybe whip up a batch of something sweet. Cookies, brownies or rice krispy treats.
Jostling the little girl a tad, she holds her hand out to Zane. "It was a pleasure to finally meet you in person, Mr. Wright. Good luck with your campaign."
~
To make an offer to help so soon would be a bad thing but he will keep in mind ways that he can help the family. That is what Zane does, after all. "Please, don't feel that you have to do anything. This is nice community. I'd like to think that we'd all help each other out in a pinch." The realist in him knows that not everyone shares his views but he refuses to acknowledge such things. The hand is taken and shaken firmly. "Thank you, Miss Foster. The pleasure was all mine. I'm sure we'll be running into each other soon." His gaze shifts to the sleepy toddler. "You be a good girl, Gracie, and listen to your mother. I'll see you in church."
