The park was buzzing with activity; it was always like this when the weather was good. Shouts, screams of laughter, singing – the place was never more alive than when it was under a hot summer sun. A riot of colour, bright clothing contrasting nicely with the lushness of the grass and trees. Mothers pushing strollers, fathers struggling with the weight of infants on their shoulders, older children tearing around as if tomorrow would never come. Everywhere people were spread out on blankets, cool boxes keeping their food fresh. Smiles, happiness and laughter, everywhere you looked.
It was enough to make a man sick, thought Max.
He took a swig from his bottle of water and grimaced. It was warm. Of course it was; he didn't have a cool box on his cart. The powers that be said that the budget just wasn't there for it, so Max had to push his cart around in ninety degree heat; with no cool water. They said he should use one of the public fountains – they were chilled, and free – but his round took him all over; he couldn't just wander off when the mood took him. That would lead to another disciplinary point against his name. He had a feeling his boss didn't like him very much as it was, and it wouldn't do to give the man any reason to watch him more closely.
He screwed the top back on, jammed the water bottle back into the cart, then lifted his cap and wiped sweat from his brow with the back of his glove. That was another thing he despised – the petty rules and regulations he had to follow. Heavy gloves and boots, in this weather? Who were they kidding? Health and Safety in the workplace – it was all a big joke. They wouldn't care if he collapsed from heat exhaustion; as long as he didn't cut his hands on the way down. At least they let him wear shorts – but his shirt was dark with sweat, nonetheless.
Max moved the cart down the hill toward the boating pond, eyes always vigilant. When the park was busy, Max was busy too. He watched the people as he moved among them – spoiled children with sticky faces, shrieking and laughing. Nobody spared him a glance, but where would they be without him, he wondered? Up to their rotten necks in litter. They'd notice if he wasn't there, that was for sure. He stopped the cart, grumbling to himself at the amount of rubbish floating on the surface of the water.
Max sighed, and used his grabber to lift a discarded can into the waste cart. It always amazed him; that people would leave their rubbish behind in a place as beautiful as this. They didn't even notice him as he wandered along. He couldn't remember the last time anyone had bid him “Good morning” - or even nodded an acknowledgement as he passed by. Selfish, ignorant people - It was as if the uniform made him invisible, he thought. If he didn't need the money, he'd tell them to shove their job up their...
“Hey Mister! Mister! Help!”
A little girl's panicked voice pierced his reverie. He jerked his head around in time to see a large red ball bouncing toward the water, a little girl in a pink dress running behind, losing the race to catch it. Her blond hair flew out behind her as she ran. The hill was steep, and in her eagerness to catch the ball her feet tangled up. She fell forward onto the grass with a startled yelp, breaking her fall with outstretched hands. The ball bounced past Max's cart and into the pond, setting some ducks off in a storm of angry quacking.
Max dropped his grabber, and ran to the edge of the water. The ball hadn't gone far, and he scooped it up easily. He walked over to the little girl. She had picked herself up, and was brushing grass from the front of her dress.
“Here you go, little Miss. Are you ok?” He asked, handing over the ball. “No cuts or anything?”
“I'm ok, Mister. Thanks for getting my ball back.” She smiled up at him. “I'm always kicking it too far away. It's lucky you were here!”
“Not a problem, Miss. I'm always on the lookout,” Max said. He lifted his water bottle and took a long swallow. “You want some water? You look hot.”
“Thanks! It's really warm today.” The girl took a sip and pulled a disgusted face. “Yeuch! That's warm, too,” she said. “You should get a thermos, that way it would be cold all the time. I wouldn't drink that stuff, if I were you.” She handed the bottle back. “Bye, Mister!”
Max was speechless; stunned by the innocent simplicity of her suggestion. Why hadn't he thought of that? He watched as she ran off, laughing, sunlight shining on her hair.
Well, at least someone noticed me, he thought.
He looked around at the park, the people, the grass, the trees. Beautiful. He grinned, amused and self concious at his own stupidity.
Still grinning, he began to push the cart again.