As I was starting to scratch out some words on to my paper, the door to my room burst open and my nine year-old son excitedly asked me to take him the playground. I quickly replied that I might take him later, but I was busy working on homework. I heard him mutter under his breath that a nice mom would take him to the playground. I snapped back at him, "Shush go play. I am the nicest mom in the world. Someday you'll realize that."

After several minutes had passed and still not much progress, I decided that maybe it was a good time to take a break and go to the playground. In leaving my room, my son and his friend met me. Their facial expressions told me what they were about to ask for the hundredth time. Before finishing my reply the children were out the door and on their way towards the play

My son and his friend were already situated on the monkey bars, hanging upside like little cave bats. Turning away, I began my walk around the track. Suddenly a cry from the baseball diamond stopped me dead in my tracks. The scream was like a coyote when his foot is caught in a trap. My head spun towards the sound. The boy playing baseball was lying on the ground in fetal position crying out in pain and clutching to his frail side. Assuming that a stray ball accidentally hit him, I expected to see his father run towards his son, comfort him, and apologize for his poor pitching abilities. I was not prepared for what happened next. The father yelled out in a boisterous voice, "Get your ass up and quit playing like a little girl. I'll hit you harder next time." The boy lay on the ground, crying and begging for his father not to strike him again with the ball. He tried so hard to regain composure and gather the courage to stand up, but failed to do so in a timely manner. His father threw another the ball and blasted him in the shoulder. He then told his son that if he did not stand up quicker and hit the ball farther, he was going to break his arm.

When I stepped outside the sunshine immediately penetrated my skin and swam through my veins like dolphins at play. It was a feeling that I had longed for all year. My senses became alive as I inhaled the fresh spring air. The smell of sweet hyacinths, fresh grasses, and coal barbecues filtered throughout the neighborhood. Chirping sounds of baby birds, beckoning for their mothers to return to the nest and bee's buzzing by brightly colored tulips were everywhere. I felt as though I had been in a coma all year and I was just awakening.

flew over the father's head deep into the outfield. Within an instant I realized what w

Some common words found in the essay are:
Child's Courage, boy's father, playing baseball, boy father, hit ball, son friend, hit ball farther, nine year-old son, boy playing baseball, ball farther, towards playground, baseball diamond, year-old son, boy playing,
Approximate Word count = 1211
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)