text: I always wondered what they meant when someone said they were a kid at heart. I never knew that kind of spirit. Even as a child, I only knew responsibility. No fun, no games, nothing. Then my neighbor asked me to get in touch with my inner child for a few hours to watch her son. I had spent a lot of time around them and quite enjoyed their company, but being solely responsible for a six year old was a lot of work and I wasn't sure I was up for the challenge. In order to gain confidence, I thought about my childhood, but I couldn't remember anything. What kind of things did I enjoy? I couldn't even remember watching cartoons or playing with toys. She insisted that I would only have to pick him up from school, make him a quick snack, and put on some cartoons. And while the task didn't seem very challenging in words, I was definitely unsure of my ability to entertain a child. Nevertheless, our friendship was more important to me than unexplained fears and I accepted. After all, she really needed the help. She was up for a promotion and the extra time at work would almost guarantee her the job. The day came too soon and my anxiety kept creeping in. Would Josh have a good time in my apartment until his mom got home? I wasn't sure that simply following my friend's instructions would be enough. I decided to take a nap before the afternoon crept up on me in hopes that it would ease my mind, but as quickly as I fell asleep, my alarm went off. I then impulsively decided to walk to pick him up as I figured the exercise would help wind him down and keep him calm once we got home. After signing him out, everything was going as planned until he suggested that we take a shortcut that he and his mom discovered. I didn't like the idea, but he insisted that his favorite park was on that route, so I gave in. When we set foot on the park path, I started to shiver. I felt funny and off, and as dark clouds formed around us, I wanted to turn around and go with my original route. But something wouldn't let me; something pushed me to act like a child and feel excitement in anticipation of the park. I was worried about Josh getting wet, and possibly catching a cold, but even more terrified of encountering lightning. Thankfully, the clouds didn't make much of an impression and gave way to a sunny afternoon quickly. Just as the last cloud vanished, I heard Josh exclaim in happiness. “Yes! We're finally here,” he said as he ran through a gate. From the outside it didn't look like a park, but who was I to argue with an eager six year old. As we passed a path lined by trees, a simple playground was revealed and I was relieved. Josh immediately knew what he wanted to do and wasted no time. He tried everything out. First, he sat on the swings. He tried three different ones out and each time he looked around. Then he looked in a tunnel. But that must have not been his thing because he quickly decided he wanted to try out a rocking horse. He was an odd little fellow for sure, but he looked to be having fun in his own way. “My mommy says I should try everything out, but I know it's the slide. It's always the slide.” His voice was so fresh and cute that his gibberish made the perfect sense. “You mean the slide is your favorite, right?” I asked him knowing the answer already. Then my phone interrupted our fun. His mom was checking in and I assured her that we were having a good time. “Your mom is gonna be a little later than expected because she's working really hard, but we can hang out here for a while. Does that sound good bud?” I was worried he'd be upset, but he just kept smiling and laughing. Behind a rather peculiar snicker, he said, “I'm working harder! I brought you to the dream slide.” “What's the dream slide?” The name intrigued me and I wanted to know more. “Get on here and I'll tell you.” He told me with a warm smile and grabbed my hand leading me to the slide. “I don't know if I'll fit.” I tried to reason with him, but he was unusually strong and pushed me to the steps of the slide. I gave in and climbed on. “Try it. I'll catch you at the bottom,” he said as he opened his arms and positioned himself perfectly to catch me. “I'll be okay,” I chuckled. “Scoot back and watch, okay?.” He nodded and I slid down. “Go again. But this time think of your dreams. Kid dreams. Like what you want to be when you grow up.” I smiled as I listened to his silly request. “Okay. I’ll try it.” I said with a big smile. As I slid down, something changed inside me. I remembered everything about being a kid. I remembered going to the park as a little boy. And I remembered eating popsicles and coloring with crayons. It felt so good that I wanted to go again and again, but as good as it felt, I wasn't the child and I needed to give Josh a turn. “Let's take turns, yeah? This is really fun!” I could hear a youthful joy in my voice that filled me with happiness. Deep down I longed to continue the connection with my childhood that I had previously forgotten. This was where I wanted to be. I savoured every moment even while sharing the slide with Josh. As we played I couldn't help but wonder if the slide had been my favorite park adventure as a child. I decided to try to remember a memory of being at the park as a child on my next turn. As I slid down, I was completely consumed by childhood. “It's a lot of fun, isn't it Derek?” There was something off about Josh’s voice, but I dismissed it. Surely all the excitement and yelling had made him hoarse. Besides, my turn was up next. All I could focus on was the childish rush. But it was abruptly interrupted by an eerie honk. Josh and I tried to look toward the street to see who was honking. He then darted off and began to snicker as he hid behind the jungle gym. “Oh, look Josh, it's your mom! She must have finished up early.” I turned to him to let him know our fun was over, but I didn't see him anywhere. The rush of the dream slide was still running in my veins and I tried to compose myself as Linda walked toward us. “Come on Josh. Your mom’s here,” I said as I looked around. I started to get a little nervous because I couldn't see him, but surely he was just hiding in the jungle gym. “Hey, how'd it go?” Linda said with a friendly smile. “It's been g-” I began to answer, but she cut me off rather rudely. “Not you, I'm talking to him.” That quickly made my youthful high disappear and I felt a string of emotions that I couldn't contain. I was upset and my tears showed it. “Everything went smoothly.” A strange voice spoke from behind the slide. It certainly wasn't Josh. Then I saw Josh climb the steps and approach the slide. He looked at me and smiled. Then he spoke, but his voice was no longer silly or innocent. It was that of a man and had a tone that I couldn't comprehend. “It's always the slide. And good thinking with the childhood amnesia elixir. The slide was able to collect more energy and the switch was easier. I think it will last a lot longer this time, and it feels better too.” He said all of this with a terrifying smirk on his face. He sounded mean and he made my heart sink. Then he slid down the slide, only when he reached the bottom, he was a grown up. Linda smiled and turned her attention towards me. She was loving and motherly as she gave me a hug and wiped my tears away. “You hear that? I got my promotion!'' She said excitedly. She pulled a small mirror out of her pocket and with a soft voice said,”look, you're a doll.” Confusion filled my soul and she could no longer keep up with wiping my tears. When I looked in the mirror, I saw myself as a child and I couldn't help but cry. Her soft voice tried to soothe me. “It's only temporary Derek. You'll grow up again one day.