Playground Peril

John whipped his head towards Lily, worry etching deep lines on his face. His first terrifying thought was injury. Had she tripped and scraped a knee? Had she fallen off her makeshift fort? But the scene before him wasn’t scraped knees or spilled tears. Lily stood frozen in the center of the yard. Her face contorted in a mask of terror, her gaze fixed on something.

The wet driveway, slick with soapy suds from the Mustang’s recent wash, stretched between him and Lily. Scattered leaves clung precariously to the slippery surface, obscuring the ground and creating a treacherous obstacle course.