Oliver finished reading the paper in about a half hour, then read the other paper in about the same amount of time. He stood and stretched, then went out to his truck and rummaged through his glove compartment until he found a small Bible. He returned to his spot in the play area to read quietly. Preston played with other kids for most of this time, but soon the crowd thinned out and there were only two other kids, perhaps five years old, and Preston.
Tentatively, Preston crawled out from one of the tubes and stood about ten feet from Oliver. He moved cautiously, ready to bolt into one of the tubes, as if he expected Oliver to spring from the chair and snatch him, but Oliver did not. He merely looked at the boy, smiled benignly, and turned the page in his Bible. The boy slowly walked to the restroom that was in the play area, his eyes glued on Oliver and his brow knit in a puzzled furrow.
Preston came out of the bathroom and walked past Oliver much more closely, within five feet, and still ready to run should Oliver make the smallest of moves. Oliver looked up from his reading as if he just noticed the boy standing there.
He waved the boy off toward the playscape and said, “Go play.”
The boy slowly returned to the playscape with an even more puzzled look on his face and climbed into one of the tubes. The two five year olds left, and now he had the place to himself. He made a few feeble attempts at play; he swung listlessly on a rope, he climbed a little on the rope net, then he slid down the slide and sort of laid at the bottom of it, looking at the ceiling. After a few seconds, he got up and walked over to Oliver, tapped him on the shoulder and said, “Hey, let's go now.”
Oliver said, “No. Go play.”
“But I’m bored. All the kids are gone. Let’s go.”
“No. I like this place. It’s a good place to read. Go play.”
“Come on, nobody’s here. It’s stupid to stay here.”
“I appreciate your opinion. Would you like anything to drink? I’m going to get a coke.”
“No, I don’t want a drink. I want to go. Let’s go.”
“You sure? Maybe another milkshake? Ooooh, I think I’ve changed my mind about that coke. Yes, vanilla. Mmmm.”
“Are you deaf? I don’t want anything. Let’s get out of here. I’m sick of this place.”
“Vanilla is my favorite.” Oliver stood and went out of the play area to the front counter.
Preston stamped his foot and let out an irritated little grunt. He walked over to a large enclosure filled with light, plastic balls of a variety of colors. He faced away from the entrance of the enclosure then fell backwards into the pool of plastic balls.
Oliver returned to the play area with his milkshake and took the same seat as before. Preston raised his head slightly above the level of the balls and peered at Oliver like a crocodile. Oliver took no notice, opened his Bible, and began reading again, pausing every few minutes to drink from his milkshake.
It was about forty-five minutes before Preston heard the familiar noise that told him Oliver was finished with his milkshake. He immediately scurried out of the giant red ball where he’d been laying and slid down the slide and walked quickly over to Oliver.
“Ok, you’re done with your milkshake. Let’s go now.”
Oliver calmly stood and walked to the trash container and deposited his milkshake cup.
“No. I’m beginning to like it here more and more. Go play.”
“I can’t, there’s nothing to do. Let’s go. I’m sick of this place. You’re just trying to get back at me for not coming down when you wanted me to.”
“Not at all. I’m enjoying myself. Do you want anything? Fries? Coke?”
“No, I don’t want anything! Sheesh!” He flailed his arms in spasmodic fury. He began muttering to himself and punctuated it by shouting out the more insulting words of the mutter. He slid into the pool of plastic balls and sulked in a corner with his arms crossed.
Oliver returned to his Bible and read contentedly.
There was a strained peace of about twenty minutes before Preston said, “I want to go.”
Oliver ignored him.
“I wanna go, I wanna go, I wanna go, go, GO!”
No response.
Preston began chanting. “I wanna go, I wanna go, let’s go, I wanna go, go, go, I wanna go, let’s go, let’s go, I wanna go…” He continued for a few minutes, then stood and exited the ball pool and walked toward Oliver all the while chanting and increasing in volume the nearer he came to Oliver. When he came to Oliver, he shrieked in his ear, “I WANNA GO!”
Oliver stuck his index finger into his ear and jiggled it. “You know, they should maybe install some sound dampening material in here, like cork or something, don’t you think?”
Preston gave Oliver a little shove on his shoulder and whirled in frustration. “What do I have to do to get you to go? You stupid moron!” He returned to the ball pool and sulked for another twenty minutes.
The early dinnertime business began to trickle in and a few kids entered the play area. For a time, Preston acted as tour guide to some of the kids, showing them what he considered the more fun aspects of the play area. He played with some of the older boys for a time, but always kept his eye on Oliver. When he saw Oliver stand and stretch and slide the Bible in his back pocket, he immediately slid down the slide, prepared to leave with him, but lowered his head in disgust when he saw him head toward the restrooms.
He crawled from the end of the slide, stood and leaned against the outside of it, waiting for Oliver. When he came out of the restrooms, Preston immediately accosted him.
“Ok. Are we gonna go now? Let’s get out of here.”
“Well, actually, I’m starting to feel a bit peckish again. Do you want anything? I’m thinking double-cheese this time.”
“I don’t want anything. I want to go! Let’s GO!” He kicked Oliver on the side of his left calf on the word “go” and gritted his teeth in defiance.
Oliver raised his brows in surprise, but calmly surveyed the area and said, “You know, this place might be a good investment. I wonder if they’re accepting investors.”
“What is wrong with you? Can’t you see I’m sick of this place? There’s nothing left to do. Let’s GO!” He aimed another kicked at the same place, but Oliver dodged, and Preston lost his balance and fell to the floor.
“Maybe I should buy this place. Then I could stay as long as I want whenever I want. You’re sure you don’t want anything?” Oliver turned and walked out of the play area and toward the front counter.
Preston pounded his fist on the floor in frustration.