A magnificent playground stood on the far edge of the island. There were three various platforms of ornate play sets. The top pyramid resembled a gliding bird, the wings spread forth, the material stretched into dual trampolines. Monkey bars twisted and contorted in an upward direction and the fairy tail Jack and the Beanstalk came to mind. There was an entire section of slides, some had water running along the length aimed at catching pools at the base of the enormous contraption.

Enthusiastic children scampered about in every direction. Even though this particular recreation area was in another realm, the innocent spirits of the children was apparent in the carefree laughter and gleeful shrieks.

"Push me! Push me!" A sprite of a girl whined as a large boy with a red baseball cap stepped in.

"Higher!" She demanded giggling with delight.

I stood gazing about the island. The thing that struck me was how I was the only adult present in a child's domain. I gazed at the ancient suit that I was sporting and my clothes suddenly transformed into shorts and a gray polo shirt. I now matched the informal dress code of everyone there. There was something very exciting about this dimension, it was as if the children's lighthearted outlooks were somehow contagious.

A moment later, Granny materialized from behind.

"Robert, what do you think of your new assignment?"

"I don't understand." I managed, turning to face her.

"Team leader, here."

"Team leader, me?" I asked with disbelief.

"That's right. These kids need guidance, someone to motivate them into leaving the playground and helping desperate children in the human world."

"I can't blame them for wanting to stay here." I said feeling tempted to run over to the basketball court and shoot the ball with some of the older children.

"No, but they must earn their time off just as every genie has for thousands of years."

Granny pulled a whistle from her oversized pocket and blew it in several short bursts. Four children scampered forth from a variety of directions. Two girls from the slides, one younger girl from the swings and a boy who took great pains in disentangling himself from the monkey bars. Everything about the boy's movements were sluggish and reluctant as if he had an attitude.

"Let me introduce you to Robert." Granny said, patting the youngest girl on the crown of her head.

"This is Clara Sharp." Granny said in the sweetest of tones.

Granny pointed as she spoke. "Tonya Boyd, Samson Wendt and Melissa Bland."

All eyes fell upon me with anticipation and I felt nervous.

"Hi." I managed noticing everyone's mirrored looks of curiosity.

"Do you like water slides?" Clara Sharp asked with enthusiasm.

"I can't say that I've ever been on one." I responded.

"Come on!" Clara said, grasping my hand then tugging.

"Clara!" Granny snapped in a scolding tone.

"It's my favorite here, I'm sorry." Clara managed abashed. She began to edge her way behind me for protection.

"Robert is your new team leader." Granny announced in a business manager tone.

"Him?" Melissa Bland said crinkling her nose.

"Yes him." Granny responded with aggravation.

"He's a bit old isn't he?" Melissa asked.

"You need someone with experience to lead your team in the field. I'm sure Robert will prove to be a wonderful example, someone all of you kids can look up to and eventually learn from."

"We liked Dwane." The boy said edging his way forward. His gaze trailed to his sneakers where he kicked at some pebbles laying underneath.

"Dwane was promoted out of here." Granny stated as a matter-of-fact.

"I don't buy it." Sam Wendt spat shaking his head.

"Well he was. He's now among an elite team working to assist the troubled youth in Chicago's roughest areas on the south side."

Sam narrowed his eyes at Granny. It was obvious he was lacking in trust, as if there were some sort of conspiracy regarding the disappearance of Dwane.

After several short minutes of business related issues, Granny led the children to the transport tunnel. To my surprise, the pavement beneath the basketball court lifted revealing the entrance.

The children were pensive as if they were mentally preparing themselves for war. "Say something of encouragement." Granny whispered to me.

I gazed at them, uncertain what to say. "Um... remember to pack your rain slickers..." I said with a grin. "Look both ways before crossing all streets....Um....Oh, I know, I want you back by dinner, you have a ton of homework to complete."

The team burst out in roars of laughter as Granny sighed her disapproval.

"Seriously..." I said as everyone straightened up to listen.

"Be careful out there. If you need to return for any reason especially that of danger, think surf, sand and beach. There will be someone here to help instruct you through any type of situation. Remember, this realm is full of contradictions, good is often followed by dark, keep your eyes open and be alert." At just the mention of the evil team I felt an overwhelming sense of grief that I didn't understand.

"Robert...." Granny whispered. "You're scaring them."

I brushed away a single tear uncertain why I was feeling such emotion. I forced a smile, then gazed at the team waiting to go.

"By the way..." I said with a sudden curiosity. "What are your landing ports on the other side?"

Clara Sharp stepped forward. "I'm in the glass shake up globe that has snow in it. Sometimes it makes me laugh the way it tickles when the glitter falls."

I nodded at her response.

Sam Wendt rolled his eyes, but finally answered. "I fall into toy trains, usually the main engine but there have been a couple of times I became melded to freight cars."

"Good." I said.

"I'm thrown into something very tiny, the right eye of stuffed animals. It takes forever for kids to notice me." Tanya explained.

"Hmm." I said understanding how frustrating it is to be waiting for those in need. "Be patient Tonya, keep your chin up."

"Yes sir." She responded.

Things fell silent and I gazed at the last girl. "And you?" I asked not recalling her name.

"It's Melissa Bland." She said through a giggle. "I teleport into bottles... not just any bottles, but perfume and men's cologne. Kids like to play with their parent's smelly stuff although most of it stinks in my opinion!"
Everyone laughed in unison, but there was something disturbing about this girl's ability to hop into bottles. I couldn't figure out why exactly it irritated me, but it did.

"Well, okay." I said, as Granny pointed at her wristwatch that was stuck on two thirty three.

"I guess it's time to go. Try to bring back some new skill to share the next time we meet up." I said as everyone rolled their eyes mirroring Sam's attitude.

"Please be careful and stay on top of things." I said feeling more at ease with my new role.

Melissa Bland shook her head, then broke the silence. "Robert, you never mentioned what you port into on the other side."

"Oh." I said grinning. "I'm with the object that reflects a true human, I become meshed with mirrors."

Everyone chuckled as they headed down into the tunnel.

"Be safe." I whispered even though the team could no longer hear my voice. I watched with curiosity as each spirit dissolved into a stream of matter. Their forms resembled the blur in a photograph when a slow shutter is used and there is quick movement. The streaks of spirit disappeared and Granny placed her hand to my shoulder.

"Are you ready to go?"

I gazed at her nodding.

"You'll meet back here in five years. When you deal with kids, everything is shorter just like their attention span. Good luck Robert!" Granny said. There was a sadness in her eyes that I didn't understand.

"Thanks for your help today."

"Sure. I'm hoping the elders will allow me to oversee your group even though this is not my dimension."

"I could loose you then?" I whispered, feeling emotional.

"It's possible. This area belongs to a younger advisor, someone who was twenty five when alive in the human world."

"I'll miss you." I said stating the obvious.

"Go now." Granny said waving her hand in dismissal. "Grant some wishes and keep your senses clear to avoid trouble."

I nodded floating down the teleport tunnel.

"You've been a terrific leader Granny." I said as she turned her gaze elsewhere. It was strange, I sensed that she was not telling me something of importance.

"Bye Robert."

With that, the pavement door swung downward and many lights fell upon the tunnel. Unlike with the other dimension, this teleport was filled with bold color. I assumed it was to amuse the kids since this was now set up for the limited attention span of youth. Honey sweet music played in the background in a cheerful banter.

By the time I landed, my stomach turned as if the wild ride like a roller coaster effected my non-human body. The entire experience was strange and yet I was happy to dismiss it. It was time to do some serious wish giving. "Wish-giving?" I whispered, as my surroundings began to come into focus. "Wish-giving...." I said again savoring the familiarity of the term. "Hmm." I mumbled intrigued by the enormous warmth that I felt.