Grovener Park – Chester

Sunshine brings
Summer days,
Summer walks,

By the river,
Through the park.

It is early evening now,
The park is quietening down.

There is a large group of teenagers by one set of benches.
This is where they all meet in the summer.
Now that Commerce is no longer an option.
They seem to be having fun, laughing and joking.

We walk past some benches, and I really want to leave some cards but I don’t know if I can. I get scared.

We walk to some other benches further away from all the people. Here there are trees blocking some of the view and I feel less noticeable.

I walk along the benches searching for one that has a little gap behind the plaque.
Just enough to slip in a corner of the card.
Many are tightly attached but I find a couple with some space.

I put my cards on the two benches.

They both have memory plaques.
They read:

"Donated to the memory of
My dear husband
Cyril Stone
‘A proud Chester lad’"

"Remembering
Stanley Tomlins
1969"

We then walked back towards the other benches.
I make Rich sit down on the benches with me so that it isn’t so obvious.

It always seems to be easier if I have somebody else with me.
I feel more protected.
By myself I get scared.
I know it’s stupid but I feel vulnerable.
Though I have no reason to.

Here there are another two benches which I can put my cards on. Their memory plaques read:

"In fond memory of
Freda and Henry Hutchinson
Dedicated July 1990"

"In loving memory of
Audrey and Charles Donnelly"

Having placed my cards,
We walk towards the exit.
Walking past the group of teenagers.
One stands up and comes to talk to us.
It is Rich’s brother.