Old Margaret walked humbly by and into her local park. The birds were chirping happily as the year had brought them closer together. She smiled at the tune that they sung. No one could see her smile though as her protective mask covered her face. She saw the usual runners shuffling along the park paths. The dog walkers where the dogs were oblivious to the human world problems. Groups of youths huddled around a fallen trunk of a tree. Perhaps too many for her liking. Her eyebrows furrowed at their ignorance to the guidelines. Their ignorance was like an insult to her. She was vulnerable and she felt that it was like them saying that they didn’t care about her. She shook her head and continued on. She didn’t have the power or the energy for it.

Old Margaret walked to her favourite spot in the park. A square garden that had a central fountain of green stone statues. Young figures frozen in stone representing a time when their worries were far more primitive than now yet they had the freedom. She approached her usual bench and she was somewhat surprised at the lack of people taking time to sit and look at the beautiful fountain masterpiece like she did. She sat down and relished the weight off her old feet as she wiggled her toes playfully but more to get the blood flowing to her paled feet.

“Excuse me ma’am.”

Old Margaret turned her head to the direction of the voice. A park steward. Great she thought, she could report those youths by the trunk to the authorities.

“You will need to book the bench you’re sitting on.”

“I beg your pardon.” Old Margaret said flabbergasted.

“The park management require those who wish to use its benches to book and pay for an allocated time slot to sit on the bench.”

“I never thought I would have to PAY for this. How has it gotten to the point where people have to pay for this now?!” She exclaimed.

“Due to limited seating as we abide to social distancing rules this has created high demand…”

“High demand!?” She retorted as if her tongue was aflame. “There’s hardly anyone sitting on the benches right now!”

Old Margaret pointed her frail finger at the empty benches.

“Ma’am, it’s the park rules.”

“Park rules!? How about those kids by the entrance? Don’t get me started!”

Old Margaret defended her bench successfully from the steward. Until they got reinforcements and extracted her from the park. The birds continued to chirp happily and blissfully unaware of the human world problems.