The four boys ran for the rolling hills at the top of their street! They anticipated their next adventure after school and on the weekends when freedom was real. Kites stretched to touch the sky when it turned a brilliant blue. Four sets of hands built dams with rocks, sticks, and branches. A first cigarette drag under the big oak. The rain didnโt stop them; they headed for the tree fort! Two stories, carpeted, and eighteen feet up the trunk! Sledding down the grass on cardboard brought laughter. Imagination was their fearless leader โ the way it was back then.
ยฉ Lauren Scott โ Baydreamerwrites.com โ All rights reserved.
image. Thank you! ๐๐ป๐
Thank you to those who have purchased Ever So Gently,
and who have shared beautiful reviews.ย ๐ฉต
Does this story evoke your own childhood memories?
I appreciate your visit today and wish you a fabulous Friday
and weekend ahead!ย
~ Lauren โค๏ธ
Baydreamer Writes ~ Lauren Scott, Author 
I can relate. Thank you, Lauren.
I’m glad this story resonates, Robbie. Oh, to be young again, right? ๐
Hi Lauren, I am actually pretty happy at my current age. My kids are old enough to be great company and are still at home. I have time for all my hobbies. Yes, I wish I could stay this age for a while.
I actually agree with you, Robbie. Even though I had a good childhood, I wouldn’t want to go back. My son and daughter live on their own, but like you, they are great company too as adults, and we remain a close-knit family which I’m thankful for. And Matthew is my best friend and makes life better. So, I’m in a good place also, except for aches and pains that align with getting older. ๐ But I wouldn’t mind going back to simpler times. ๐ค
I agree that our childhoods were much less stress free than now. The digital world is full of flaws ๐ชป
Such Care free and joyful read of youth. Beautiful writing Lauren-:)
๐
Thanks for your wonderful words, Cindy. Those days seem like yesterday but were so long ago. ๐ ๐ฉท
It’s so true!!!!!๐
Happy Friday Lauren!!
I love this – It’s full of childhood memories for me too and lovely images.
I love this kind of short story.
Have a nice day and lovely weekend โค๏ธโค๏ธ
Happy Friday, Marie, and I’m so glad you liked this walk back to our youth. Thanks for your lovely words, and have a wonderful weekend too. Hugs โค๏ธ๐๐ป
Growing up, imagination was our best friend Lauren. No one had to tell us to do it, we just did it. I suppose it was our social media network so to speak! ๐ฅฐ๐๐
I miss those simpler times, Kym. As much as I enjoy social media (as I type ๐ ), I could live without it. Thanks for reading! โค๏ธ๐๐งก
Lauren, I can deeply connect with your words my friend. I think we need to maintain that sense of manual and physical connection. Just think what would happen if the electricity goes out? We then allow our imaginations and pens to soar! ๐ฑโ๐โ๐ผ๐ฆ
So well said, Kym. Thanks for sharing your lovely thoughts that I connect with also. By the way, on those rare occasions when our electricity has gone out, we grab the camping lanterns and headlamps and do some quiet reading. We turn the PG&E inconvenience into an indoor camping adventure. Sending hugs for a happy weekend. xoxox
Oh Lauren, I simply love that idea. ๐ Turning a negative into a positive is always up my alley girlfriend. Cheers for a great weekend. ๐ค๐ฅ๐ฅฐ
An idyllic time
Yes it was. ๐
๐
beautifully written, Lauren! โค your book is on my to read list this weekend! I have some of your older ones to read also!
Thanks so much, Carol Anne. I’m glad you enjoyed this story, and I hope you enjoy my books too! Thank you and Happy Reading! โค๏ธ๐๐ป
Can you email me Lauren? I want to contact you as soon as I read your books so I can get your link to the blog so I can leave reviews for you. My contact email is on my blog site therapy bits.com
Sure, Iโll email you this afternoon when Iโm home from work. Thanks, Carol Anne. ๐ฅฐ๐ป
Brilliant, thanks Lauren, enjoy your day at work โบ๏ธ
Hi Carol Anne, I emailed you yesterday, just letting you know. ๐
What a lovely carefree memory. Beautiful story, Lauren! Happy Friday!
Thanks, Miriam! I’m glad you enjoyed this story. Happy Friday to you too! ๐งก๐
You’re welcome, Lauren. Have a wonderful weekend. ๐
Lauren you captured so well a boy’s world. ๐
Thanks, Carol! I appreciate you saying so. Have a great weekend! ๐
Oh yes—sliding down the hill and using our imaginations!
Those were the days, right, Jonathan? ๐ Thanks for chiming in!
“DING=!” ๐
๐๐
So beautiful brought back childhood memories, Lauren. Thanks a lot ๐๐๐ป๐
Thanks, Kamal! I’m glad this evoked great childhood memories. Hugs xo
Always welcome dear Lauren. Yes it sure did. Happy Sunday ๐๐
Although I enjoy being an adult, my childhood days bring on many fond memories. Carefree days playing with friends, swinging from trees, riding bikes, and having fun. Sigh…
I feel the exact same way, Eugi. But I could live in those simpler times without social media, even though I enjoy it. Thanks for chiming in. ๐ฉท
A beautiful vignette, Lauren. It did bring up memories of childhood!
Thanks so much, Steve. I’m glad this story could evoke good memories for you. I’m happy with my life now, but I miss the simpler times. ๐
Youโre welcome, Lauren. Iโm happier that mine is more simple than it used to be. ๐
Well, that’s good, Steve! ๐
๐
That is such a beautiful place, love the images. And it did bring back memories of my childhood.
Thanks, Pooja. I’m glad you enjoyed this story and the memories it evoked. Hope you have a good weekend! โค๏ธ
My pleasure and hope you do too! โค๏ธ
Now I have serious treehouse envy! The one my brother built didn’t even have a roof.
Haha, funny, Liz! Thanks for stopping by!
๐ณ๐ก
My pleasure, Lauren!
Took me back to my childhood days bought up in a beautiful rural setting.
I’m glad this story could evoke wonderful memories for you, Ian. Thanks for reading. ๐
“the way it was back then.” What beautifully nostalgic yet hopeful lines!
Thanks so much, Layla! ๐ฉท
Brought back childhood memories with just a change of setting. Sea instead of hills. ๐
Beautiful, my dear friend!
๐๐คโค๏ธ๐ค๐
Raised on the prairies, a hill was rare.
Still, imagination was abundant!
Lol… okay the garbage can lid door to our 1/2 foot high wild grasses wall fort is quite the memory. Back then the grass walls seemed 6 ft. high.
I saw a pic of us kids sitting in a ring of grass, with a garbage can lid lying flat on the ground.
Still laughing!!!!
xo๐xo
Omg, I’m laughing, Resa! But I’m glad this little story evoked such delightful memories! Those were the days when imagination shined ever so brightly! ๐ xo๐ปxo
Those were the days!
๐๐ ๐โง
That’s how it was back then. We made our own fun in the hills, streams, and woods. Wonderful visuals in this, Lauren. I can feel the joy.
Thanks for your kind words, Diana, and I’m glad you could feel the joy from this story. Sometimes, I wish we could go back, not in age, but to those simpler times. โค๏ธ
Me too…. Pre-internet. It was a magical time for kids.
‘The way it was’ indeed, Lauren! Your words, once again, take me back to my childhood and teenage years hiking on just such beautiful hills and valleys. It was such a beautiful feeling of freedom, liberty, and defining moments which would solidify my lifelong love of nature in its pristine, undisturbed oasis just beyond our back door. You, as I have been truly blessed for the wonders of nature in its way.