Kate had wandered aimlessly and now found herself at Addams Park. It was a busy Sunday afternoon, and that helped ease Kate’s nerves a bit. No boogie man would be jumping out to grab her with all these people --witnesses-- around. The park gave Kate a feeling of serenity. There were people on bikes and rollerblades, a group of middle school-aged kids playing a fierce game of basketball at the courts, a group of toddlers playing in a large sandbox; their mothers sitting close by on benches watching with smiles plastered on their faces. Over by the small pond, a father and daughter were feeding the ducks bread. There were a few picnic areas scattered throughout the park, dogs barking at targeted birds or squirrels, laughter of children on the playground equipment and the steady creeek-creeek of the swings, as the kids pushed their limit, going as high as they would dare could be heard from the middle of the park.

Smiling to herself, Kate started walking around the small sidewalk that followed the perimeter of the large park. Kate’s mind wandered to her dog back home, Freckles.

‘He would love it here,’ Kate thought. She smiled at the picture her mind produced of him pulling on his leash, trying his best to get a little bird that mocked and teased him. Kate could picture him splashing in the small pond, scaring the ducks on the water into flight. She saw him licking up some child’s dropped ice cream off the sidewalk. “Yeah. He’d love it here,” Kate said out loud to herself, a smile still on her face. Suddenly, homesickness flooded over Kate, and a single tear slid down her cheek. After walking over half way around the park, it was starting to get late, and many of the park goers were packing up and going home to get ready for another busy work or school week that started tomorrow. Kate decided she better go back to her dorm room and do the same.

****

Back in her room, Kate sat in the middle of her bed, legs folded Indian-style against her. She was staring at her human anatomy book, her first class on Monday, but couldn’t focus on any of the words, let alone what they read. Her mind was on the park, and Freckles, and how bad she missed Glendale; something she never thought was possible. Looking over at her clock on the nightstand, it read 8:01p.m.

“I’ll just give Mom and them a quick call,” Kate said to her empty room. Dialing her old home number, there was a three-ring wait before her mother’s sweet voice came through on the other end.

“Oh, Kate. Your father and I were just talking about you earlier today! How ironic that you called!” her mother informed her.

“Well, I hope it was all good things!” Kate replied, laughing. Just the sound of her mother’s voice instantly made Kate feel better, as it always had.

“Of course, sweetie!” her mother exclaimed. “How are you? How’s everything going?”

“Well, alright. Hectic, you know, but that’s expected….” Kate’s voice trailed off.

“What is it? What’s wrong, Katie-bug?” Her mother could always tell. It was just part of being a mother, Kate assumed. Taking a deep breath, Kate told her mother everything that had happened with ‘Pete.’ Starting with accepting the friend request, all the way through today’s earlier events. After a few seconds of silence, Kate could hear a hint of worry in her mother’s voice; although Kate was positive her mom was doing her absolute best to cover it up.

“Oh, Katie. That is scary. Have you called the cops? Could they do anything? I wish Freckles could be there with you. He definitely wouldn’t let anything happen to ya.”

“No, I haven’t called any cops or anything yet. If much more of anything else happens, though, I definitely will. This guy --whoever he is-- really had me freaked out earlier.” Kate answered.

“I can imagine so.” her mom replied. Kate could still sense the concern in her voice.

Kate asked, “Where’s Dad?”

“Oh, honey. He’s in bed already. He wasn’t feeling very well, and said he had a pretty bad headache. I’ll have to tell him you called in the morning.” her mother told her.

“Oh. What about Freckles? Where’s he at?” Kate asked her.

“Ahh… you know Freckles. Laying on your bed waiting for you to come home. Poor dog. He really does miss you. As much as your father and I sometimes, I think.”

“Awww.. Well, give him a hug and kiss for me.” Kate said.

“Kate! I am not kissin’ no dog! I don’t care how cute the little sucker is!” Kate’s mom announced.

Laughing, Kate said, “Oh, well, alright, then, Mom. Maybe just a good extra scratch behind his ears, then?”

“That I can handle.” her mom told her.

“Well, Mama, I better get off here. I have some reading I should get done before tomorrow morning, so I’m not totally lost in class.”

“Alright, sweetie.”

“Thanks for talking with me, mom. You really made me feel a lot better.” Kate said quietly.

“It’s no problem, Angel. It’s what mothers are for, after all.” Kate could picture her mom smiling.

“I love you, Mama.”

“I love you, too, Sugar.” And with that, the call was ended, and Kate’s mother’s reassuring and calming voice was gone. Sighing, Kate reopened her anatomy book and started reading again. Her focus was a lot clearer this time, and Kate smiled.

****