Page 30 - English Class 06

Barbara enjoyed these outings as much as Polly. She loved to just relax and sit with other

women she would meet there. They would exchange stories about their children. When she
felt like it! Barbara tucked her knitting or an interesting novel into Polly’s bag. She felt a little
tired from the brisk jaunt and plopped down at the nearest picnic table. Soon Carole, one of
her friends, wandered over to her.

Polly watched her mother and the other women. Polly liked it when her mother chatted
with other women. It gave her extra long playtime.

The slide was cold today, but this did not stop Polly from whisking down its bare back.
The cold metal sent shivers of fun through her. Faster and faster she slid each time she

climbed the endless steps. Up-up-up she went eager to swoosh along the cold silver slide.
Polly loved to day dream while she rode on the slide. She would close her eyes and think of
herself as a lovely princess on a white horse some day. She would pretend that she was
either a lost puppy or a lost kitten looking for its mother. She would crawl around while she

meowed or whimpered sadly. Polly had heard her mother say that she had a good
imagination.

Polly continued her trips up and down the stairs and slide. On what was, may be her
twelfth trip, a strange sound shot into the air. It was a very painful groan. “What’s that?”
She asked jumping of the end of the slide.
jaunt : short journey taken for pleasure
“Oh thank you!” came the answer over
plop down : to fall down with a sound
her shoulder. whisk : to move quickly

“Who said this?” Polly asked again. whimper : to cry softly
startle : surprised, astonished
“I did.”
Polly looked round and round. Two very very sad eyes stared back at her. “Thank you for

getting off,” said a giant mouth just below the teary eyes.

“My back aches really bad, today.”
Polly rubbed her eyes. She could not believe. Was this really happening?

“A talking slide!” Polly whispered. She said, “Did you speak to me?”

“Why? Yes I did,” answered the silver slide. “I’m sorry I startled you but I can’t take it
anymore. Each and everyday child jumps on me and races down my back. I was fine when I
was young, but I’ve grown old and weary. I love children specially you Polly, but I shudder

where they dig their feet into my back. Can you help me Polly?” cried the steel slide. “If this
keeps up, I will have to be turned into a pile of steel and thrown into the junk heap – I know
all I need is little rest. In time, I will be okay. The park is putting in a new slide soon. Guess
until then I will have to be brave.”

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