M A R K

We sat along the edge of the park, not caring about the kids who roamed around us and took our places on the swings. Mom went to feed some birds with some bread that was kept in her car over the pond near by. She was still in-sight and close enough to help if anything happens, but Sean and I weren't worried as we leaned against an aged tree.

Sean had complained about getting too hot and wanting to find some shade, so I compromised and drug him under this giant tree. Literally. Not only was he too hot, he was too lazy. Not that I minded him much, I only laughed at his silliness and pulled his weight behind me.

Once under, he thanked me sincerely and leaned his back against the trunk of the tree. I, of course, welcomed him and followed his actions.

The place, along with the view, is incredible to me. Just across the pond a field can be seen filled with all sorts of colorful plants, flowers. I get lost in the way the flowers move with the grass as a gust of wind whirls through the plain. It's a sight to me and I glance over to Sean who also seems intrigued with the field.

"Pretty. Isn't it?" I say aloud, glancing at Sean before returning my gaze to the real life painting happening just over the crystal clear water.

Sean nods sheepishly while bringing his knees to his chest and focusing harder on the field.

"Mark?" Sean says my name without taking his eyes off of the color arrangement of flowers.

"Yes, Sean?" I respond looking back at him.

"Would you make fun of me for something that I love?" The question catches me off guard and I think for a moment and try to process what he is trying to ask me. Make fun of him? Why would I do that?

"No, of course not. I would never make fun of you. You're my friend, aren't you?" I ask, smiling at him timidly, while he digs his knees more into his chest, his chin almost resting on top of his legs.

He doesn't answer, but he's not obliged to, yet I feel a bit pained from the lack of responsiveness.

"Would you tell me what you love? I can't possibly make fun of you for it. You can swear on me for that," I say sternly yet happy toned. Sean can tell me, he can tell me anything. That's the first step in a friendship, right?

He finally looks over at me with surprise in his eyes. "You promise?"

I nod and hold out my pinky finger. He reaches over and interlocks are pinkies together before retreating it and taking a deep breath.

"...I love the prettiest of flowers. Flowers that are bright... like the sun! Yeah, the sun. And I love flowers that smell like my mommy's perfume. Mommy's perfume is the best. Flowers are pretty and I love pretty flowers... Do you like flowers?" He rambles on and turns to me to answer his question.

"Flowers?" I repeat and Sean starts to form a frown.

"Please don't be a meanie and make fun of me," Sean requests quietly.

I shake my head instantly. "No, no, I didn't mean it like that! I'm just surprised, that's all. I think it's great that you love flowers. Flowers are pretty." I smile once more and this time he returns it back and with a small giggle.

"Really?!" He exclaims while sitting up more and holding onto my shoulders.

"Yes!" I reply just as enthusiastic.

"Can we go pick some? Please, please, please!" He jumped up suddenly, yanking at my arms to get me up and I laughed at him while trying to respond.

"You want to go pick some flowers?" I ask to confirm his request and he nods his head excitedly while repeating 'please' over and over again. "Okay, okay, okay, I'll go ask my momma!" I chuckle as he pulls me up and we rush over to where my mom stands, tossing bread crumbs to ducks that are near the bank.

She notices are presence and holds out the bag of bread, gesturing it to us. "Want to help me feed the ducks? I have a few slices left," she offers and I look to Sean for his answer, but he is too fixated on the patches of flowers.

I go to tell her no thank you, but I think for a moment about it and I can already feel the guilt eating at me from my stomach. "Sure. Sean, do you want to?"

He snaps his head to me like he just came back into reality, and for a moment I see him look back between my eyes before processing the question. "Uh, yeah! I like duckies," he replies simple and grabs a slice of bread and starts to tear at it, making small crumbs for the ducks while I do the same.

We throw the bread crumbs into the water as the different colors of ducks come closer and eat their treat. I smile as I realize that Sean is having a blast feeding them.

After all of the bread was used, Sean and I both turn to my mom, already preparing on how to ask her about going into the field.

"Hey Mom?" I catch her attention as she turns to me for me to continue. "Um, Sean and I were wondering if we could go over there." I point over to the field across the field.

"The field?"

"Y-yes ma'am," I stammer out. I was nervous of course, it's a big request since the field is however large in size and the grass is reasonably tall. I look over to Sean once more and he gives me a small smile to help me.

"Oh, Hun, I'm sorry. You and I don't know what is in that field, you could get hurt and I wouldn't want that to happen to either one you," she says sadly, looking back between Sean and I.

I frown at her response, but I know she is right. I turn to Sean and he has a pained look on his face which makes me want to hug him.

"Maybe another time, right? We could find some flowers elsewhere and pick those, yeah?" I say, trying to cheer him up.

"But, those flowers are pretty."

"I know, Sean. Just maybe another time."

We left the park soon after that. Of course, Sean was still disappointed about not being able to go into the field, but he soon returned to normal after getting hid mind off of it. We returned home safely while we spent the rest of the day playing my board games or playing with Sean's toys. Which so happened to be Barbie dolls.

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