It was one of my mom’s random summer parties. All her friends are at the house,
food is on the grill, the normal. I ask my younger brother if he wants to take a walk
around the neighborhood and take a breath from greeting everyone.
We take this walk often and just talk to each other about our lives and what’s been
going on recently. We walk out the house and take in the humid summer air. We turn on
Oak Ave and go on the now broken, worn down sidewalk. The neighborhood seems like a
ghost town, there is no one walking their dog, or dads playing catch with their sons.
Just houses and grass with no one around. Mike finally broke the silence and said, ̈I
can’t stand Mr. B. His math class is so hard, ̈ he mumbled angrily.
̈I’ve never had him before, but none of my friends  seem to like him. ̈ I answered
̈I wish we lived somewhere where it was like this all the time, we get good
weather for three months, then just cold. ̈
He seemed upset or sad for some reason. My brother is usually loud and has
something to say all the time. I’m not used to him being this quiet and discussing
things like weather or school.
̈ You alright man, since when did you talk about the weather? Or your math
class? ̈
̈ I’m okay, it’s just nothing is the same anymore. Look around you, it’s just
depressing. That’s what I am talking about. Look over there. ̈ He pointed in front of us. I
had no idea what he was trying to say. I looked up and tried to see what he was pointing
at.
̈Mike, what are you saying? ̈Are you talking about the dog in that window? Yes, I
agree, with a day like this he should be outside playing with his yellow tennis ball. ̈
̈Alex, look to your left. ̈
I turned my head and saw the white house with a brand new Cadillac in the
driveway. There are two kids outside, no older than 7 or 8. They are the only kids outside
playing. But they are not playing with an orange basketball, or a jump rope. They have
what looks like a video game covering their head.
̈ The kids? ̈ I asked
Mike nodded, staring at the children.
̈That isn’t playing. They are trapped in that world. It just feels wrong to me. We
would have never done that when we were kids. They should be running around in the
grass and laughing like we used to. ̈
I stared back at the kids trying to make sense in what Mike is saying. It looked
like a VR headset. They were not moving much, or talking to each other. The wind blew
and I felt a chill down my spine despite it being a hot summer day.
̈Maybe it’s a new type of game? ̈ I suggested not confident but sad with the sight of the children’s emotionless, not
laughing or shouting, and chasing each other across the yard.
Mike shook his head in frustration.
̈Don’t you see? It’s more than that. It’s like technology has taken over, children
now only care about iPads or the newest technology. Remember when we were kids, we
would get together with the other kids and play hide and seek across this same
neighborhood. Mom would have to go in her car looking for us because we would never
want to be in the house. This is just an example of what this world has become. ̈
He paused with a sigh as if he was going to continue. I took in what he said as we
continued to walk the broken sidewalk that was once white and strong. I began to look
around me. This neighborhood was once filled with kids running around, or racing on
their bikes to see who was the fastest to go up the hill. Is now empty, and broken. This
whole place lost its spirit. With every step I could almost hear the past echoes of children
laughing and cheering. The trees are now dark with branches hardly holding on.
I glanced over at Mike, still turning his head to look at the only children outside.
We paused at the STOP sign that is missing the O. The kids don’t understand what’s
around them, they are in a bubble of what true life really is. It’s not their fault though, I
bet every kid is doing the same thing.
̈” Your right, we used to have so much fun here. We used to live and find
enjoyment with the tiniest things. ̈
I paused for a second, remembering the time of being a child and thinking this
little neighborhood was my world.
̈ I miss those times, ̈ I added softly
Mike looked over at me, his mood softened.
̈ I just don’t get it, how does the world move so fast to make it like this.
Everyone’s letting go of what really matters, I don’t think this is an issue just with kids.
Everyone can’t get off their phones now. ̈ He kicked a pebble sending it down the road
I nodded, my mind racing with this idea
̈ we are losing our old way of doing things, the world is moving faster, and is
already caught up. Everyone is plugged in and don’t know how to be… anyone I guess. ̈ I
said jokingly.
As we continued walking near the intersection to go back to Oak Ave. We became
silent and noticed how much we have changed, as well as the world around us.
̈ Do you smell that? ̈ Mike asked me randomly
̈ Smell what? ̈
̈ You’re joking, how can you not smell mom’s pork chops on the grill right now!
I’ll race you to them, first one to the house gets to pick first. ̈ He said with a smile on his
face
” You’re on. ̈
We ran up as if we were in the little world we once thrived.