Tabatha’s Tales

The park, affectionately known by the residents of the city of Camdenhill as ‘The Park’ (a proper noun), always manifests an aura of peace to me. I have a favorite tree here. It was four years ago that I learned I could find comfort, wisdom, and even an occasional bout of luck as I engaged in contemplation while reposed against the smooth, gray bark. My eyes carefully scan the scene as I walk toward my favorite tree, which is thankfully unoccupied. I see three guys I know from school playing Frisbee with their Labrador retriever, a friend of mine reading under a distant tree, and six members of the art club meeting by the statue of Alexander T. Camden. “There are a good, many people here,” I think to myself as I quicken my walking pace to claim my spot before anyone else arrives. One of my friends from the art club sees me then waves as I take my seat. Today feels like a quintessential late October day, with the concept of ‘the season of fall’ screaming from the colors of the environment, the scents in the air, and the activities I see people pursuing. I find myself looking forward to the trees changing their foliage colors, which will continue to happen for the next couple of weeks or so, as that is my favorite part of autumn. Camdenhill is an interesting sort of city. It was named after its founder, Alexander T. Camden, in 1698. Like any historical city, it has concerns with the maintenance of the old buildings and maintaining a clean environment. However, for all the constantly rising population of the city, and the age of all its buildings, pipes, drainage systems, etc. – the city just received a clean air and water award. I have no idea what the city does to clean the air and the water. I only know that they do a good job in promoting sustainable use practices and that most Camdenhill residents are very eco-conscious. Litter is the most obvious problem. I try to volunteer for ‘Clean the City’ events when I can, but it is a never-ending problem. There are a lot of historic homes. A few of them are mansions, some of which you can see while driving by in a car. Others are hidden behind gates or are in neighborhoods, so I’ve only heard about them but never have seen them. I often wonder about the residents of those mansions. What they’re like, what they look like. What it is like to grow up and live in a mansion. What it is like to come from a rich, historical legacy family. The list goes on. ~excerpt from Tabitha's Tales Book #1: The City of Camdenhill, trying to make kids enjoy reading more everyday.