Park, park, park, park! Diesel wags his whole body.

The large maple trees shade us from the sun, making the air a little cooler. As I breathe in deeply, I feel the knots loosen.

The playground and community arena sit at the far end, beyond a soccer field. Kids with beach towels and bags are lined up in front of the arena already, waiting for the pool to open. We stroll in that direction, too.

Still thinking about Morgan’s biker relatives, I ask, “Do your aunt and uncle get along well?”

Morgan snorts. “Better than my parents. He adores her. Thinks it’s cute that she’s so petite.”

“Wow.”

“She makes him feel strong. He likes to protect her.”

“I’m already taller than your Aunt Lynn, aren’t I?”

“Sure, a li’l bit.”

Up ahead a large fountain shoots water into the air, and a breeze throws some of the spray onto our faces. Luanne giggles and I can’t help laughing along. It tickles.

Diesel drags Morgan. I am very thirsty after this long walk.

She lets him have a drink. His tongue lapping at the water makes a happy slap slap sound.

My dog is alive. I do a little bouncy skip behind the stroller, sort of like Diesel’s walk.

“Do you think your parents ever loved each other?” I ask Morgan. “I mean, can you imagine your mom thinking your dad was hot?”

“Gross. I don’t like to think about it.”

“My mom and dad did, I’m sure of it.”

Against a nearby trash can, Diesel lifts his leg.

“Doesn’t matter if they did or didn’t,” Morgan says. “They don’t see anything good in each other anymore or they wouldn’t have split. It’s over. They’ll never get back together.”

“How do you know?” I ask.

“My sister and I tried everything. Left chocolates with love notes on their pillows.” Morgan turns and winks at me. “They were really good ones — I wrote them myself.”

“But those were lies.”

“We took my brother to Grandma’s so they could have romantic nights alone.”

“That’s a great idea. I mean, I don’t have a brother but maybe I could clear out of the house.”

Morgan shakes her head. “My parents always ended up fighting.”

Huh! “Maybe my parents are different.”

“Or you’re in denial.”

Diesel squats to do his business. I pull an empty plastic bread bag from my pocket and shove it at Morgan.

“Are you kidding me? I’m not touching that.”

“It was worth a try.” I wink at her this time. “Wait here with Luanne, then.” I walk over to Diesel’s pile, stoop, and scoop, not even gagging at the smell.

You wrap it up to keep it fresh, says Diesel.

I quickly drop the bag in the bin.

Then you throw it away?

Can’t explain right now. I giggle as we continue on.

Ahead in the soccer field, a bunch of guys play Frisbee. I spy Simon, his T-shirt tied around his waist. Morgan says he likes me. Maybe height doesn’t matter. I straighten and feel tall for a moment. On the other end of the field, his red-haired friend Tom sends the Frisbee toward him.