STORIES YOU HEAR IN 

THE PARK

by Meagan Downes

Sounds of a river flowing lightly fade in and remain in the background throughout the scene

Narration comes in in stereo

NARRATOR

Hello and welcome. [Breathe]  I want to thank you for listening and joining me at the river. Please take a seat or go somewhere that feels welcoming and comfortable to you. [Breathe] If at any point this audio experience becomes too much, I encourage you to step back, and take care of yourself. Only do what is comfortable for you right now.

Look up. What does the sky look like today? Can you see or feel the sun? Are there clouds? Are you surrounded by the sensations of rain or snow? What else is here? Name some of the creatures or plants you see, out loud if you are comfortable.

Beat 

Take one headphone out. What sounds can you hear? Can you hear cars, people talking or animals scurrying? Can you hear any stories? Can you see any stories? Put your earbud back in.

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NARRATOR

What stories might be here?

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Every year, throughout the months of May and June, people gather along this river for the 2rivers festival, created by the Wellington Water Watchers, a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection, restoration, and conservation of source water in Guelph-Wellington. The festival focuses on our connection to our rivers, and the importance of protecting this ecosystem.  This is done through the sharing of Indigenous River knowledge, highlighting hidden streams, teachings about different river creatures and other holistic and community activities like music, hiking, yoga, and rowing. [Breathe] The 2rivers Festival also stresses the need for all of us to address the intersectional issues that intensify ecological problems, and emphasizes the value of implementing Indigenous knowledge when considering waterways. [Beat]  What do you do to protect the water?

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What stories might be here?

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In 2016, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation filed an Aboriginal Title Claim to Waters, asserting their rights to the waters, the water beds, ground water and floodplains within their traditional lands. To the Mississaugas of the Credit, water is a spiritual being and is vital for all life forms that depend on it. [Beat] That includes you. They advocate for a healthy environment and for protecting and caring for the water in a holistic way that encourages sustainability. [Breathe]  The water you see and feel is within the traditional lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. They are the stewards and caretakers of this water and land.

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What stories might be here?

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What do you do when you come to the river? Do you watch the geese or take a walk by the water? Have you ever played at the park?

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KAYLA

Mum says I have 10 minutes until we have to go home to eat dinner! I’d much rather stay here but sometimes you gotta do things you don’t wanna. That’s what mum says. What is dinner today? Pizza maybe? No time to think about that! How much can I do in 10 minutes? Slide, slide, slide, Monkey bars! I loooove the monkey bars! I’m almost the fastest on them. Do those 4 times… No six times! Yup, and then go tell Mya I’m having dinner soon—Hopefully pizza—…Where’s Mya? My-ya!? And I have to say bye to Finn and Lucas and Zoë and then… I’ll go back to the slide. Slide, slide, slide. Ask mum how much time I have, ask about pizza. And then the swings. Swings are my fav-or-rite. Maybe mum will push me. Or give me an underdog! I’ll ask her. Grab my backpack, put it on so I’m good to go. Then I’ll slide, and slide one more time, Hug Mya bye, Grab mum’s hand, and then pizza! Hopefully.

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NARRATOR

What stories live here?

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MOM

I watch Kayla run off back to the park. We agreed on ten more minutes even though we started with five-she’s a wonderful negotiator for a six year-old. I think she might be calculating something because she’s counting her fingers-she must have figured it out though because now she’s rushing up the steps to fly down that big slide; I hate that slide, but I’d never tell her-She loves it-Almost as much as the swings. The drop at the end of the slide just seems so big. I’d like to know who designed it. My eyes dart around with each jump she takes. I could watch her play for hours. And I have been. We’ve been here for hours. / Shit! What am I going to make for dinner?! That’s what I needed to do – She needs to eat! What do I have at home…? eer…there’s the leftover pizza from two nights ago. I guess that will have to do. There might be some frozen green beans I can heat too. That’ll be fine. How do I tell Kayla that it’s pizza again?

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What stories might be here?

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Is anyone walking in the park today? Eating lunch, maybe? 10 years ago, a man was jogging along the side of this river. It was his regular route, his shoelace nearly tripping him with each stride. [Breathe] Another man, on an early lunch break, fearful he might witness a disaster, called to the runner, and gestured to his untied shoe. [Breathe] As the runner tied his laces back together the two got to talking. Both 26, both born in May. One a Taurus and the other a Gemini. New to the city. New to their jobs. Both loved bread and swimming and staying up late. [Beat] 10 years later the two meet here for brunch; it’s their favorite date spot. The runner, Jackson, always brings two hazelnut lattes from Starbucks. His husband, Isaiah, brings two croissants from the Boathouse across the street. They moved into a house nearby, so the river is only a five-minute walk away. [Breathe]  One Saturday, they get talking about all the other couples that might have met here. They wonder what brought those couples together. Was it something as small and as seemingly insignificant as an untied shoelace?

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What stories might be here?

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  Stop to notice the buildings around you. The stores nearby. Maybe you can see Goodness Me from where you sit. Or the LCBO? Starbucks? Would you shop there? A young girl— Charlotte—rushes past me and runs towards Gordon Street, trying her best to look away from the river or anything she might pass. She just missed the bus and now has to walk all the way to No Frills. It’s an awful long way. And she doesn’t have time for it. She has to work in a few hours, and she needs to eat. In her first year of university, she and her roommates would drive down to the river, grab lunch from somewhere downtown and chat the afternoon away. Things are different now. Charlotte doesn’t have a car or a friend that has one. She can’t afford any of the shops near the house she pays constantly rising rent for; she never really could. Charlotte passes by a couple sitting having coffees and eating lunch from Starbucks and feels the blood rush through her body. “Why can’t I have a life like that?” she thinks to herself.

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What stories might be here?

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Have you thought much more about the animals passing you today? Have you noticed any birds, squirrels, or fish maybe? If you’d like, walk towards the water. Try your best to find a fish. In the summer, this can be an easy task. Less so in the winter, when the fish, like the trees, take time to slow down and rest. If you can’t find a fish, perhaps you can imagine a fish swimming through the water in front of you.

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FISH

I am meant to swim. I feel it as I glide through the water and take a breath through my gills. This is my home. It has been for as long as I can remember. I am in control. The smaller creatures hide when I come their way. When I am hungry, they don’t get too far. I am in control. Above and below. The larger creatures gather round to watch me. They like to see me swim. They are so amazed they hand over their food. I am in control. I swim around my home. I swim side-by-side with friends. We are four of a kind you might say. We are in control, eating what might come our way. Resting when we see fit. This is our home.

a plop noise a la fishing bait

I see a small silver fish drop into the water! It slowly spirals as it swims down until it finds a resting spot in our grass. My brother goes for it. He makes the catch. Suddenly, he swims out of our home – to ‘the above’. I see rippled shadows and reflections of the large creatures from ‘the above’, but they’re not interested in my swimming today. They do not give me their food. We are not in control. Give me my brother back. We are meant to swim.

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What stories might reside here?

Sounds of a river flowing audio

NARRATOR

Take one ear bud out again. Do you hear the cars? the people? the sounds of the city? Now, put your earbud back in.

Sounds of the river flowing, Birds chirping mixed with soft sounds of the city.

NARRATOR

Focus. Take it all in. Can you feel the sun? Can you see the creatures? Can you hear the stories that reside here?

The sounds of the river, the birds and soft city sounds start to fade away.

End of Scene.