I saw a dead body

Yesterday while I was waiting for my son to be released from school, I was watching the snow skitter across the landscape blown by the arctic wind. It was freezing which was part of the reason that I had gone to pick him up but it is also our time to spend together and I can find out what he has learned during the day on our brief ride home.  For once we are home there are much better things to do rather than talk to mom.

My eyes flowed over the landscape and came to rest on the swing set. I cocked my head to the left and stared. What on earth was that? I than cocked my head to the right and squinted unsure that what my brain was processing was actually true. For if it was the children were about to have the shock of their lives upon exiting the school. A weekend ruined and why?

It looked at though a body wrapped in an orange garbage bag had settled onto the swing. And was swinging slowly back and forth. My first thought was not for the children but wondering how the body was attached to the swing so that it did not fall off. Than I thought this is going to really suck for the first kid that sees it. I will admit that there was a small frission of alarm that I was not more shocked by the sudden appearance of a body in my child’s school yard.

I continued to wonder, really wonder how the body was staying on the swaying swing when I noticed a mother crossing the yard. She was bundled up against the cold, trudging along, her hajib wrapped around her. She wore a long dark black coat and sturdy winter boots. Such a contrast in cultures. And she walked right by the body on the swing without even giving it a second look so I did. Only to realize that it was an actual swing. Not a body.

I probably sound a lot crazy but I often see things in a different way. I have seen many a thing that does not exist. I believe it is because I am imaginative and everything I see has the potential to become a story. Does this? I am not sure. But I am unable to get the stark image of the blowing snow, the swing swaying back and forth and trying to figure out how one would attach the body to the swing so it will not fall off. My other is who would actually put a body in a schoolyard thus traumatizing all the children? What sick thrill would be gotten from this.

I will continue to think about it. I do believe there is something there however my fear is I have never written a mystery and I do not know where to start. I don’t know how to write mysteries but maybe it is not a mystery? I am confounded and will continue to ponder this sudden dilemma.