I also enjoy people watching and deducing a story from what I see.

My favorite was a younger couple arriving at a playground with two little boys in tow. The couple stood and watched as the two boys played, but I noticed that whenever one of the kids said, "Watch this!" or wanted to show one of the adults something, it was always directed at the dad. They would give the woman sideways glances periodically, and she would occasionally speak to them, but it was clear she was an outsider to the situation.

The couple stood with an arm around the other's waist, and they stayed that way for a good 10 minutes before the dad gently unentangled himself to crouch down to talk to one of the boys. The woman stretched her arms slightly. I remembered that awkward phase in a new relationship where you're afraid to break a physical connection because you don't want to seem like you're pulling away first, and how easily that awkwardness leads to stiff muscles.

After observing them for a little while, I concluded that this was a new relationship and the woman was not the boys' mother. It was probably a "meet my kids" date, and it was kind of adorable. They left around the same time we did, and I correctly predicted that they'd probably leave in a small, older model car (the mom probably got the nicer one in the divorce). I was correct. :-)

Thanks for the reminder that inspiration is all around us, and for sharing some of yours!