Nyyaaah, I'm proud of this one also. I love it because it's so cute with the hangy ball joke.

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No matter what I did, no matter how many times I tried, I would never go down the big slide.

It terrified me. I mean, I was five for Pete's sake! But one day I felt courageous and went towards the slide.

It was much taller than me. Much taller than anybody. It was rusted in some spots and made of some kind of metal. I started to climb the stairs, one at a time and not looking down. I got to the top and stared out towards the rest of the playground.

It was so cool! I saw the top of the monkey bars, and the castle fort and I could see everyone in the park. Even my mom, who was way on the other side. But then, I looked down. Oh, how far down it was. I clung to the bar and shut my eyes tight.

I don't know how long they were shut for, but the next thing I knew a whole bunch of kids were yelling at me to go down the slide.

"C'mon kid!"

"Yeah, we want a turn!"

"Marly, go down!" I shook my head. A few kids from down below me groaned and walked away. But one girl stayed.

She looked about my age, only shorter. Her blond hair was styled like a bug's antennae. Her hands were on her hips and she looked mad.

"Go down, kid." She yelled.

I shook my head.

"I SAID GO DOWN. I WANT A TURN." She yelled. Again, I shook my head. She growled and started climbing up the stairs.

"Fine, you won't go down, I'll make you go down." She said climbing up.

She got to the top, looked me in the eye and untangled my arms from the bar.

"Close your eyes." I obeyed, and down I felt myself go. When I opened my eyes, I was at the bottom of the slide. The girl was coming down after me.

"Watch OUUUUUUUUT!" She yelled as she slid on top of me, knocking me down.

"Darn it, I said watch out!" She stomped back towards the stairs and began climbing up again. I moved this time and watched he go down.

Repeating the process, she went down again. And Again. And Again! After a few slides she looked at me.

"Take a picture, it will last longer."

"How could you go down so many times and not be scared?" I asked.

She laughed. "It's not scary."

"Yes it is!"

"Not really. My sister goes down all the time, and she's only three years old. She's not scared. She loves it!" (AN: Namine)

"I guess I'm not brave then." I said quietly. I sat down on the ground and looked down.

The girl frowned as she walked to me.

"You have courage, you just need to find it first." She said kneeling beside me. "You see, mine's right here." She opened her mouth and pointed to her hangy ball in her mouth.

"That's what my daddy told me."

I smiled. "Where's mine?"

She pursed her lips in concentration. "Daddy said it's in different places for most people. He says mines in my mouth because I talk a lot. Do you talk a lot?"

I shook my head no.

"But I like to play with flowers and play in the grass." I added.

"Then your courage must be in your hands!" She said snapping her fingers. She grabbed my arms and led me to the slide.

"Now, all you have to do," She said going up, "is put your hands together and you should have courage. But, keep your eyes open. It's much more fun."

I listened to the girl's instructions and put my hands together and went down.

It was really fun! I sat at the end and smiled.

"Thanks for the courage…umm…what's your name?"

"Larxene. L-A-R-X…ene. And you?"

"I'm Marluxia, Marly to be short." I said smiling.

"Wanna go down again?"

"Sure!"

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