Swing Set and Pete were inseparable.
Every summer as soon as school let out, Pete’s father would be in the backyard putting together Swing Set for Pete and his friends. His father made sure everything was safe and secure in the ground.
There were two single swings, and a swing in which two or more could sit facing each other and rock back and forth.
And the big slide!
As soon as Swing Set was ready, Pete’s father would call, “Okay, son, it’s ready!”
to Pete and his friends who were waiting impatiently inside.
Pete’s father could barely get the announcement out when Pete and his friends would charge out of the house and dash to Swing Set where they took turns swinging, sliding, laughing, and joking.
It would make Pete’s mother nervous to see Pete swinging so high, but Pete never had any fear. The higher he swung, the more he believed Swing Set would protect him.
“Don’t swing so high,” she would warn.
“I love this swing set,” Pete shared with his friends one day. “I'm already looking forward to us returning in the morning, but I’ll be sad when we go back to school because we won’t be able to enjoy it as much.”
“You’re the only person we know that can live in the past, present, and future all at the same time,” one of his friends remarked, starting laughter among the gang, including Pete, even though this comment was at his expense. He laughed because it was true.
It was true for Swing Set too. He would feel sad once school started again because Pete and his friends would play on him less and less. It would be occasional afternoons, and then eventually the weekends only.
Then that awful day would come when the weather would start getting cold, and Pete’s father would be forced to take apart Swing Set and store him in the garage until the next summer.
But, Swing Set didn’t mind. Like Pete, he looked forward to school letting out again, so he could be taken out of the garage, put together, and give Pete and his friends joy again.
This went on for some time. One summer after another.
After every play session, Pete would make it a point to look at Swing Set and whisper, “thank you.”
Then came the day when Swing Set thought Pete’s father would arrive in the garage to take him out and put him together in the yard again.
But one day turned into another, and Swing Set became confused and concerned as to what was taking so long.
One year turned into another, and Swing Set realized something.
Pete’s father was not putting him together again.
What have I done wrong? Swing Set cried.
The more Swing Set cried, the more he rusted.
The more Swing Set rusted, the more he cried.
Finally, he heard Pete’s father come into the garage.
Oh boy! They haven’t forgotten about me!
“Now, where did I leave my lucky hammer?” Pete’s father asked aloud, as if the stuff in the garage could answer him. “Well, I’ll be. Pete’s old swing set. Oh, how I loved putting it together and seeing Pete enjoying it with his friends. Well, too bad they all outgrew it. Not sure what to do with it now. I’ll think of something someday. Maybe I’ll shine it up and sell it a yard sale. Or give it away. Oh! There’s my hammer.”
Pete’s father exited the garage and closed the door.
Swing Set realized what was going on.
He didn’t want to face it.
The more he cried, the more he rusted.
The more he rusted, the more he cried.
After a long, long time came another day when Swing Set heard Pete’s father’s voice again.
“Well, just look at you, you rusty old thing. I know exactly what to do with you."
This is it. This is how it ends. Nothing ever lasts forever. I will remember the great times we shared together, Pete. He’s going to shine me and get rid of me.
Swing Set could feel Pete’s father putting him back together again. He felt the familiar parts being assembled to one another like so long, long ago.
He could feel himself being painted and polished. He could feel new attachments and plastic things being secured in several places.
Eventually, he saw Pete’s father stand in front of him. He looked much, much older, but Swing Set recognized that face anywhere.
“Oh, Pete!” his father called.
To his surprise and delight, Swing Set saw Pete leave the house and enter the backyard. He, too, looked much, much older, but Swing Set recognized that face anywhere.
“Wow!” Pete exclaimed. “Just look at it! I can’t believe you kept it all these years! How can I thank you?”
“You and Pete Jr. stay for dinner, okay?”
“Okay!”
Pete Jr.?
Just then, Pete turned to the house and called, “Okay, son, it’s ready!” to his son and his friends who were waiting impatiently inside.
Pete could barely get the announcement out when his son and his friends charged out of the house and dashed to Swing Set where they took turns swinging, sliding, laughing, and joking.
It made Pete nervous to see Pete Jr. swinging so high, but Pete Jr. never had any fear. The higher he swung, the more he believed Swing Set would protect him.
“Don’t swing so high son,” warned Pete.
At that, Pete’s father roared with laughter.
“What’s so funny?”
“You sound just like your mother when you were a kid!”
Pete joined in on the laughter even though the comment was at his expense. He laughed because it was true.
Pete Jr. witnessed his father and grandfather laughing, and even though he hadn’t heard what was said, he joined in on the laughter.
Father and son.
Father and son.
And Swing Set.
Eventually, it was time for dinner, and Pete announced that his son and his friends could come back in the morning to play on the swing set.
Pete Jr.’s friends expressed their gratitude and promised to return.
“Ready for dinner, Pete?”
“Yes, dad. I’ll be there in just a minute.”
“Okay.”
As soon as everyone was in the house, Pete turned to Swing Set.
He whispered, “thank you.”
Copyright Scott C. Forrest-Allen
