A Walk in the Park

Paula usually walked around the lake after lunch. She knew the route so well that she could almost follow it without looking up. One afternoon, though, she noticed a narrow path beyond a large tree. She had plenty of time before going home, so she decided to see where it led.

The new path was quieter than the one by the lake. There were flower beds, a small wooden bridge and two dogs chasing a ball. Paula stopped to take a picture. When she looked around again, the lake was no longer visible. She walked a little farther, but the path divided into three directions.

Her phone had very little battery left, and she didn't want to waste it on a map. Instead, she looked for one of the park signs she had passed earlier. She found a large map beside a bench, but it took her a moment to work out which way she was facing.

Then Paula heard water splashing. The map showed a fountain near the centre of the park, and she remembered seeing it on previous visits. She followed the sound until the fountain appeared between the trees. From there, the main path led straight back to the lake.

Paula wasn't far from where she had started. She sat beside the water for a few minutes and looked at the path she had just taken. The next weekend, she returned with her sister and showed her the bridge. This time, she knew exactly where she was going.