I've always been a fan of the weird. Those strange little stories that make you sit back and think. Honestly wondering sometimes what is real and what is made up. I love writing horror fiction, but also love writing weird or strange fiction as well. Creating something that makes you stop and think, or even question everything.
I wrote this story some years back. I believe the idea had popped into my head after walking up to a local playground with my kids. After returning home, I sat and thought about the different playground equipment, and what if it was set in a really creepy location. Something like a cemetery maybe. Liking the oddity of that idea, I sat and wrote this short story.
This one would be considered weird or strange. Really, I could see it making its way onto a Twilight Zone episode, if that was still a thing. I really like this story. It's short, but is a lot of fun. So, check this one out, And make sure when your hanging out with your kids at that little playground, hopefully there aren't any headstones for you to navigate around. Thanks, and enjoy.
Cemetery Slide
By Matthew R. Taylor
The steps going up the slide were still kind of slick. The morning dew hadn’t completely evaporated off yet, and Jasmine felt her feet slip a bit as she ascended. Her knuckles turned white as both of her hands gripped each handrail firmly as she continued to climb. She knew she could easily slip, but hoped that wouldn't happen. A light breeze picked up the higher she got. Tossing her hair around her face and obstructing her view at times. But, she kept climbing. Determined to reach the top of the tall metal slide, and not chicken out. Her brother Jake, had climbed this same ladder for the slide only moments before, and she had watched as he had slid down the shining metal, a shout of excitement coming from him the whole way down. There was no way she was going to allow him to have all of the fun, and leave her just standing on the ground. So despite her fear, she had stepped over to the slide and started climbing. Jake now stood off to one side of the slide, glaring up at her as she got higher and higher.
“Come on Jasmine, we don't have all day,” he said. His taunts and insistence in his voice drove her to conquer her fear of heights and keep climbing. She stopped momentarily as a strong wind whipped hard at her, trying to pry her hands loose or make her feet slip. After it passed, she climbed on and on. Feeling like she was never going to reach the top, she began to question her decision. Should she have stayed on the ground? Maybe Jake had been right and she wasn't big enough yet to go up this slide. Just then, her foot slapped down on The wide flat landing at the top of the slide. Never letting go of the handrails, she slid her hands forward as the bars flattened out at the top. She had made it. Looking around in amazement, she saw the wide expanse of the park, all of the beautiful green grass and trees, and houses all around in the distance. Her small eyes took all of this in and reveled in the beauty.
“LET'S GO JASMINE!” Her brother shouted from down below. His high-pitched voice broke through the beautiful moment she found herself in, and she knew it was time to go down the slide. Creeping forward she crouched down and slowly slid her legs out in front of her self. Very slowly she moved into a sitting position at the top of the shiny metal slide. Hands now gripping the edges of the slide, she stared down at the metal and it's plummeting drop. You can do this, she told herself, you can do this. Sucking in a deep shuddering breath, she let go and squeezed her eyes shut. Her stomach turned over and over as she felt herself start to drop. She quickly picked up speed and felt her hair fly out behind her as she rocketed down the slide. Before she knew it, the slide flattened out at the bottom and she felt her legs drop and feet slap something hard on the ground. It was over, she had survived.
Opening her eyes, Jasmine realized that despite all of her fear, she had done it. Looking down at the ground where her feet had landed on something hard and firm, she saw the dark gray flat piece of granite. She read the words etched into its surface slowly and carefully. Letting them sink into her mind.
Drew Westcard
1957 to 2010
“A beloved father, husband, and good friend.”
She wondered for a moment who Drew had been, and if he really was a good friend. Shrugging off the questions, she got up off the slide, stepped across Drew’s headstone, and join her brother.
“Good job squirt, now let's go swing for a bit,” he said.
“Ok,” she said in a quiet voice. Pride still swelling in her chest as they walked through the thick green grass and around other headstones or flat granite slabs. All with names dates and inscriptions on them. She had conquered the cemetery playground slide, next would be the Mausoleum castle.