This is a focused freewrite I did yesterday which I was rather pleased with. The topic was a happy memory:
It was a cool day, overcast yet still bright. Almost too cool to be outside, but young minds are not to be deterred. It's a Wednesday, we always babysit my 2 year old nephew on a Wednesday. I walk to the nursery with my mum to collect him. He's full of vim and vigour as usual, excitedly pointing to cars, and buses and bikes, saying the name of each in his slightly lisping voice. Hard to describe, but you know how a child speaks before he's learned to form the words properly. I'm lagging behind a little, and mum teasingly tells him to tell me to hurry up. I can't help but giggle as he says 'Hurry up do!' (he has trouble with Js), and I chase after him, tickling him every time he says it.
Not long are we in the door, and he's running through the house, tugging at the backdoor, looking to get outside. So out we go, unlocking the shed and getting his outdoor toys. He runs about from toy to toy, never seeming to lose energy. He pushes himself along in his toy car, trying to run over my toes, and laughing joyfully at my various antics to dodge him. Dad comes home and joins us outside, bringing the camera.
Later Gareth wants to try the swing we bought him (we spoil him so), and barely stops giggling as my mum jokes about with him as she pushes the swing. I'm sitting on the garden bench, just watching, just enjoying the moment, letting that infectious laughter and childish joy sweep over me. It is such a simple thing, yet I am smiling broadly and completely happy in this moment.
Until my dad turns the camera in my direction that is!
