Walking down the road, Slap finds himself staring straight down at the ground as he moseys along the sidewalk. Although the season is not quite over, recent events have put a gray cloud above the stickmans head. Some folks tend to not listen to the happenings, yet somehow word gets back to those who choose not to listen; anger and doubt soon encompasses.

“Maybe it’s just a phase Slap,” the stickman says to himself.
All the anger and confusion has brought our little friend down, and even the toe tapping song “Copacabana” by his favorite singer Barry Manilow can’t keep his step in rhythm. “Damn, ain’t got no groove today, and Mother Glamis hasn’t talked to Slap in awhile.
Plus, Slap don't see kids playing in the street anymore” he mutters to himself. “Back when Slap was a youngen, we would be playin kick the can, hide-and-go-seek, and even hop-scotch till the dark of night. And all of the time listening for the Ice Cream Man to come to bring us Star Pops. It just doesn’t feel right anymore.”

The sun was out, late afternoon, and Slap continues down the road talking to himself. A slight haze filled the air, and as Slap rounded the corner in his rural neighborhood, a feint scent of jasmine caught Slap’s attention. At that moment, memories of a special time came rushing back. So strong was the memory that it stopped Slap dead in his tracks. The memory of dirt roads, kickball, kick the can, riding Schwinn Scramblers in the canyon, hop-scotch, and hide and go seek brought an instant tear to Slap’s eye. “Slap's eyes are gettin all teary. All Slap needs right now is a Star Pop from the Ice Cream Man” he thought to himself. The tears flowed, and he was filled with happiness; so much that he could hardly control himself. “Maybe those days are long gone. Maybe there isn’t anybody that likes those things anymore. Maybe the old days of simple fun are just too boring for the kids today.” Try as he might, Slap found himself lowering his head again. But as he walked on in his dreary state, something on the sidewalk in front of him caught his attention. He couldn’t believe his eyes, it was a chalk sketch of a hop-scotch game. Tears of joy came rushing in again, and Slap skipped through it with perfect precision. In his happiness he sang Copacabana at the top of his lungs. And in the distance he could hear a feint sound of rings and bells; the Ice Cream Man was coming.

That gave me chills Slappy.

Thank you.

Vicki

Real nice Stick man.

My neighborhood still has all of that.
Hide-n-seek, hop scotch, bikes,
scooters, daily Ice cream man,
puppies, neighbors chattin on the sidewalk,
and kids of all colors.

Some times you just dont realize how nice it is, until someone puts it in writing.

Thank You very much.

Often its hard to see the forest through the trees..

Great stroy Slap..

Funny,
Here is the view from my garage, right now.
[attachmentid=77994]

I was just talking to my neighbor about this yesterday. I don't see any of that fun stuff in my neighborhood.

It's sad, I barely know our neighbors

Dats a beautimous shot Robbie, and all we needs now is kids racin down the street sittin on skateboards wearin old bell helmets and jofas. NOW DATS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

Sorry to hear that What hurts, PWR. Maybe it's gonna take a few of the Slaparmy to go out and doorbell ditch some houses to get folks awake.

Door bell ditching was fun. I think i'll teach the kids that tonight. Peace