Laurell experienced a long and lonely day because Tim was with his family at a Mardi Gras parade. The park was deserted. One can only spend just so much time on playground equipment and can throw just so many acorns against the trunk of a tree. He headed to a short cut through the golf course rough, to check his private pond before going home. As he walked clouds intruded between him and the sun and the building wind produced bitter cold . His tennis shoes squeaked on the sodden grass. He sat on the roots of a live oak, staring at his sneakers, with his elbows on his knees. It was no fun without Tim. He had thought he would sneak into the pond and wade for golf balls. Because of the weather it had been sometime since they had raided it. The pond would be literally filled with golf balls and Tim would be green with envy from the number Laurell would likely find, but it was too cold to strip down. It was the worst time for Laurell than he knew. Someone was watching, waiting along the path through the woods to the bridge crossing the bayou....
