The roundabout still stood; the paint-work on the frame had crumpled off like a snake shedding its skin, only underneath was a fragile and rusty fame. It wouldn’t turn very fast anymore. Soon the time will come when it won’t function anymore and it will just be another scrap fragment in a scrap heap, but its life will start over again ⎯ maybe as a car.
The sandpit had been covered up, so it wouldn’t come into contact with the rain. This didn’t stop the wind from blowing the cover off and sand flying around everywhere. I shut my eyes and turned my face, so and grit wouldn’t go into my face. I turned back and saw the sandpit and stared at it. I remember younger children loved the sandpit. They would build sandpits amongst other things.
There was a small pond as well, but it wasn’t the same. The rain had kept the water, but it was a dull place. There were tyres and other rubbish floating above. The bare shrubs ad trees had made a swamp.
The playing field stood out though, against the grey sky and cold and rainy atmosphere ⎯ an oasis in a desert. The short green grass was a soft and vibrant coloured carpet. The rubbish and amber leaves made it look as though it was brought in by children into their houses, but it would always be cleared up.
I sat on the bench overlooking the playing fields and remembered playing football here. Sometimes I would play alongside my bothers or my friends, other times I watched my older brothers play, whilst I sat on the grass visualising myself playing for Manchester United.
… The visitors had scored early n the first half and they were trailing one-nil with five minutes remaining. “Come on lads, we can still get a result.” Shouted Alex Ferguson on the top of his voice. He was taking a risk, by taking off the central defender and replacing him with the 16-year-old attacker, but the manager knew what he was doing, thought the players.
The fans were cheering the players on, but time was ticking away. It was the 90th minute and all of a sudden Manchester United sprung into life. A long ball from Britain’s best player was latched onto by the forward, Dwight Yorke, who beat the off-side trap and was suddenly one-on-one with the England Goalkeeper, David Seaman. There was complete silence as the crowd watched and all of a sudden the crowd were roaring as the goal was neatly finished off.
The crowd went wild with delight as though the fate of the Premiership title was already decided. “GLORY, GLORY MAN. UNITED…” chanted the crowd. Manchester United had found themselves in danger again as they conceded a corner, but it was easily dealt with by the defenders and they on the break again. The crowd watched in awe at Andy Cole’s phenomenal skill, before passing to the 16-year-old attacker. Again the crowd went silent as the watched a moment of magic by the youngster. He dribbled past six players and had only the keeper to beat. He struck the ball and the crowd were out of their seats and ANOTHER GOAL FOR MANCHESTER UNITED!
Sometimes I would think of playing alongside the Manchester United superstars and scoring the winning goal. The captain would congratulate me for my goal.
It started raining heavily, so decided it was time to go. I looked back one last time, before leaving. The place was empty, just a few figures here and there. The wind started to blow hard as well. The ground wet cement: footprints would be engraved onto it in the morning. More leaves started to fall off the trees. Nature was leaving the park and everything green was left to die, but it will be back to replace them.
I walked past the park gate and walked down the street, through then tunnel noticing the person lying on the floor. I felt sorry for the person, but walked on. But I realised that in other countries it was a lot worse: there would be beggars everywhere, but will be gone unnoticed by passers-by. There isn’t just happiness and joy everywhere, but also sadness and suffering. So “What would be happening around the world at this moment?” I thought to myself.
A child may be born bringing happiness all over the world. Someone will die bringing sadness and mourning to families all over the world. Children may be celebrating their birthdays, happily open presents and having fun. Someone else may be lying in a hospital with ‘get well’ cards beside him or her. A person may have won the lottery somewhere; somebody else may have lost all his or her savings or been mugged.
A couple may be getting married: reciting their vows and hoping to live together in happiness until death; others may be dying. Children will be at school somewhere ⎯ some will be learning, but others will just be having a laugh and messing about. People will be at work others will be at home.
Children in third world countries will be starving because money, which should be going towards health and a better quality of life for the people in third world countries, is going to western countries to pay off debts. There will be famines and droughts in third world countries. Children die of malnutrition and hunger, as there isn’t enough aid.
And what would General Pinochet, the former Chilean dictator be doing at this moment? In his old age and ill heath, he is now in need of a wheelchair. The frail old man is waiting to stand trial for the atrocities committed during his reign as leader of the military government.
Mike Tyson will be returning to the USA demolishing his opponent. He could be at a press conference in the USA, feeling content with his victory.
In Chechnya, there are Russian soldiers fighting a guerrilla war against the Chechen rebels. Some of the time they will be fighting: shooting in combat and other times they will be hiding in dugouts at temperatures below freezing. Russian soldiers will be dying and so will Chechen rebels; but both the same, with the same hopes and dreams and same shivering skeletons.
