"Look, Mom, the swing is moving by itself!" Jackson pointed at the empty swing set, a nervous giggle escaping his lips.
It was a cloudy afternoon in Fort Worth, and the wind was swirling fallen leaves around the park. Jackson and his mom were at their favorite playground, a wonderland of colorful slides, climbing frames, and a super-duper tall twisty slide. But today, something felt different.
"Maybe a friendly ghost is pushing it, wanting to play," Mom chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. Mom loved to draw, and she often imagined fantastic creatures hiding in plain sight.
Jackson, though a brave boy who loved dragons and climbing, felt a shiver run down his spine. He imagined a mischievous ghost with a mischievous grin, pushing the swing higher and higher. He held onto his robot arms, a gift from his grandpa, feeling braver with their sturdy grip.
Suddenly, a wise old voice echoed through the playground, "Fear not, little one. It's just the wind playing tricks!"
A colorful figure emerged from behind the monkey bars. It was an old woman with a pointy hat decorated with sparkling stars and a long, flowing purple dress. She had kind eyes that twinkled like the stars on her hat.
"Who are you?" Jackson asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I'm Willow, the Playground Witch!" she said with a warm smile. "And I know a thing or two about resilience."
Jackson's brow furrowed. "Resilience?"
"It's like when you fall off your bike," Willow explained, "But you get back up, dust yourself off, and try again!"
Jackson nodded, remembering the time he scraped his knee learning to ride his bike. It hurt, but he got back on and kept practicing.
Willow winked. "See, you already know about resilience! It's about being brave even when things seem scary or tough."
She pointed to the swaying swing. "The wind can be strong, but the swing always comes back to the middle. Just like you, Jackson. No matter what challenges you face, you can always find your way back."
Jackson looked at the swing, then back at Willow. He took a deep breath and walked towards the swing, his robot arms feeling strong and steady.
"Do you want to try pushing the swing with me?" he asked Willow.
Willow's laughter, like wind chimes, filled the playground. "Of course, dear one! Let's show that wind who's boss!"
And so they did. Jackson and Willow pushed the swing together, laughing as the wind tried to outdo them. Jackson felt a new kind of bravery, the bravery that comes from facing your fears and knowing you can overcome any challenge. He realized that resilience wasn't just a word; it was a power that resided within him.
As the sun began to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple, Jackson and his mom walked hand-in-hand back home. He turned back to take one last look at the playground. The swing swayed gently, bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun. He knew that even though things might seem scary sometimes, with a little bit of resilience, he could handle anything.
