Seasons

The old man clears a space for himself, wiping the snow from the bench.   A robin lands further along the seat and stays quite still, watching as the man bends three times, scooping up handfuls of snow.  He then carefully shapes the snow three times into a ball placing each one gently next to him.
He smiles as a laughing young couple pass the bench leaving a trail of footprints into the past.  He considers this point and his mind wanders further back into his own past and how it is linked to this place, a place he loves.

Solie Park Spring Fayre 1971

The pretty young lady handed the handsome young juggler the four items he requested.  He gave her a wink and a red flush lit up her face, accompanied by her youthful smile, a smile that came as much from her eyes as her lips.
He returned to the centre of the growing crowd and then proceeded to quite magically manoeuvre the items through the air, to great applause.
Returning the items to the girl and filled with a confidence sprung from his performance he asked the young lady her name.
‘Alice’ she replied, blushing a second time.

Solie Park Summer 1973

The sun shone gloriously as the two people walked hand in hand very much in love.  As they walked through the tree lined path the man marvels at how the shadows fall and leave her pretty, lovely unlined face. 
  His heart races as he lead her by the hand to the Oriental bridge on the lake.  She leant over the bridge pointing out a pair of swans, and then turns to find her lover crouched on one knee holding a sparkling diamond ring.
‘Will you marry me?’  He softly asked.

Solie Park Autumn 1983

Ten years on, the same couple walk hand in hand through the park, the autumn illuminates the park with red and gold.  Their fair share of happiness and sorrow had been their companion the past few years yet not their only companion as the couple are led by two little girls.  Squealing in delight as they kicked a path through the autumn leaves, the parents laugh at their children’s simple joy.
The elder of the children spoke to her father and he brought three balls from his coat pocket.  He made the ball whizz to through the air as the children watched mesmerised.
‘Teach me daddy!’ cried the child.  ‘No me daddy, me first!’ cried the other.

Solie Park Winter 2001

A cold wind rushed through the park as the few remaining leaves appear to dance to a tune unheard.  The man pushed a wheelchair through this special place knowing this will be the last time, mercifully his wife does not.
They reach a bench, he sits to face his wife and lovingly takes her hand.  She managed a smile, it reminds him of the girl he met oh so long ago.  He choked a little but returned her smile.  
Not a soul in sight he talked to her and she listens, he spoke of their young love, their children, their friends, he talked of intimate loving things and a tear drifts down her pain ravaged face.  He leaned to wipe it away and it is that moment, the place their love first blossomed that the light finally went out from her eyes.  He held her hand for a long time, his face glistening in tears ‘Oh Alice’ he whispered.

The robin had long left his perch on the bench as the man returned from his past to the present. He looks off down the path, his eyes not what they were, four shapes heading this way.
Two of the smaller shapes break away, racing towards him. ‘Granddad, granddad!’ they cry as the little boy and girl leap into his arms.
The children climb down and his old but strong hands reach for the balls of snow as the children ask him to juggle once mor
e.