Nanny Park

As kids, we all spent a lot of time on the playground. Making up scenarios of pirates and mud pie bakeries.
I remember the metallic, sooty smell left on my hands from swinging across the monkey bars and dropping to the asphalt. Cherry drops from the bars and around the world on the rings. The callouses on my palms were worn proudly like a badge of accomplishment. The playground was a proving ground where you met allies and avoided enemies. You never know who you'll meet.
Zoe is in need of a few playmates. She rarely gets to hang with folks her own age. I've been taking her to a kid's park up the hill lately, and it's fun to see her interact with her peers in the sandbox. She isn't super shy, and greets others with a smile and extended hand- whether that hand is to offer some sand or request your toy depends on her whim. Last week, Zoe was chillin in the sandbox, playing at a dollhouse that has been planted there. An older girl came romping over. She was probably 3 or 4. Little girls like to come over and visit Zoe, they seem to be attracted to babies in general. I was sitting a few feet away watching over the kids and parents milling about, watching Zoe as she greeted the little girl. My gaze wandered around and when I looked back, the two were facing each other, but Zoe was no longer smiling. The little girl was holding Zoe's pacifier having obviously just wrenched it from Zoe's lips, and a moment later, the little brat reached out with both hands in front of her and shoved Zoe, toppling her over backwards in the sand. Shocked, Zoe started to cry the silent cry that only means she is building up steam, getting angrier with every quiet second that passes. I snatched her binky back from the Brat and said "Where is your Mommy? You don't shove babies around, that's no way to behave!" Then a nanny came running over with an apologetic look, "did she push the baby? I'm so sorry!"
Obviously this has happened before.
"Tell the baby you're sorry", the Nanny demanded.
Silence.
"Tell the baby you're sorry".
Silence.
Not sorry one bit, little bully.
"Give the baby a hug-"
Great. The little bully gave shaken Zoe a brief and insincere squeeze, just scaring her a little bit more.
As the brat was pulled away, back toward the jungle gym with the bigger kids, I picked the leaves from Zoe's hair, replaced her binky and told her that some days you meet a new friend, and some days you get shoved over by the playground bullies. "This may have been the first time someone shoved you at the park, but unfortunately, it probably won't be the last. How you get by depends on how you handle yourself after."
Zoe toddled off, still learning to walk and picked up a shovel. "Back to work", she thought with a smile.
It's a beautiful day in the park.