Puddle Game

As we rolled up in the school bus, things were just fine. It was absolutely pouring outside, a warm summer rain coming straight down in a huge volume. The gutters were washing clean, the streets swept with sheets of cleansing rain. And we were warm and dry inside the bus, headed for our outing. No one seemed put off by the fact that it was coming down in a steady pour out there.

We came around a slight bend, and there was a massive puddle to the right. Not muddy or filthy, just a quiet puddle of clear rainwater, the dark green grass submerged in its maybe 18" of temporary depth. Right then the leader, a guy who for whatever reason looked exactly like Joaquin Phoenix, right down to that bad, evil hair he had in Gladiator. We were some kind of scouts, apparently, maybe a youth club, and for whatever reason, he was in charge.

Well, this was the place he wanted, and the bus stopped.

"Okay," he said, clapping his hands together as he jumped into the aisle, "This is the place we want!" Everyone on the bus except me seemed to know what he was talking about.

"Let's head out for . . . boat race!" and all of the kids around, a mix of ages from probably six to 17 or 18, let out huge screams of pure joy.

And so right into the puddle they all went, and sat right down in the middle of it. Tons of squeals of surprise and reaction to the water, as the rain poured down. Everyone lined up in single file, sitting Indian-style, except with their crossed legs in the lap of the person in front of them. It was a tight line, and everyone had done this before.

Then Joaquin yelled out "Row!" and everyone started to pretend they were rowing a boat or a racing skull, splashing like mad in the puddle. Everyone thought it was the greatest thing they'd ever done.

Me, I just stood there drenched in front of the bus door, watching them having their fun in the rain puddle.