Annie Elise

Welcome back to an all-new episode of Serial Asleep.

The night of June 2nd, 2023, was not a typical night for the Quail Run neighborhood in Ocala, Florida.

It was normally a very quiet, very peaceful neighborhood, full of younger, working-class families just trying to make a living and raise their kids.

And on any regular evening, you could actually hear the neighborhood kids playing outside.

There were a lot of them too, all varying in ages, and spending time together outside was really what they loved to do.

So much so that many of the adults had become friends over the years as well.

Just think of it as like a traditional neighborhood, not necessarily block parties, but with that kind of vibe, right?

With everybody outside, the kids all playing, the parents getting to know one another.

everyone really looked out for one another.

And the adults would even take turns watching the kids while they were playing outside.

Almost like the neighborhood parents considered the neighborhood kids to all be their kids.

And the kids, they were all each other's best friends.

There was just this really great sense of community there.

And I have to say, in this day and age, that is like music to my ears because it's not often that kids choose to play outside and get dirty rather than stay inside and play video games or stare at their phones or their tablets.

I know for me, when I was growing up, it was play outside until the streetlights come on.

You are riding your bike.

You're making obstacle courses.

You're playing fake restaurant.

You're using chalk.

And there's something so nostalgic and wholesome and comforting about that.