The sky holds the dim gold of a fading afternoon. It reflects off a sea of tall irregular grass. Standing before this field a single thick black wire hangs suspended by two foot high wooden posts set at either side of the field. Separated thus from the untamed pint sized wilderness I am grateful that the patch of grass looking over the field is mowed regularly. I never much cared for tall grass and it's inclination to scratch my knees and calves. Taking a deep breath and steadying myself, slowly I swing back on the golf club. Focusing now only on the golf ball set before me I swing forward swiftly and with great control. The ball makes a satisfying thwack on impact with my club and I watch as it sails into the golden rays of the sun and disappears forever into the thick field. DB congratulates me and I stand back as he slams his ball into the distance. The field is a great place to spend our lunch unwinding just enough from the tension of the work morning to go back full bore into the rest of the day. Though I was certain I had parked my car in the dirt lot just ten yards back from the grass where we set up, it is not there.
That the car was not stolen but just left at the elementary is a certainty. Bidding my farewell from DB I walk the half mile alongside the field to the elementary. The walls are white painted cinder blocks and the lighting is that universal slightly annoying sunshine bright fluorescent kind. The floor here is a large foot squared tile linoleum floor. Only the front part of the building and the cafeteria that connects to it on the left is tiled thus. Walking along the right side of the front office one walks through double doors where the huge open room of education takes place. Here the floor is carpeted but one usually skips over the abrupt transition from tile to carpet and notices the lack of walls. Partitions two meters tall are all that separates some classes from others. Many do not even have this amount of privacy. Reflecting a certain kind of cubicle plan in the corporate world perhaps.
Walking around the front office to the cafeteria I seek to summon forth some nostalgia for the place. My sponge of emotions in that regard has all but been squeezed dry due to my frequent visits to the place. The only thing that consistently surprises me is the lowness of the ceilings. Entering the cafeteria I am startled to find it full and bursting with children and teachers. It is at this instant that I notice a thick smell of smoke. In the hustle and of bustle of people I notice my mother doing her part to corral her students. Not sure the cause of this chaotic scene I seek to inform her or an administrator of the smoke. In this pursuit I notice my little sister but am unable to place her position or purpose. Though I am unable to deliver my message, I assure myself that the staff must already be informed. Walking outside the front of the building I see a chaos I somehow missed upon entering. The front parking lot is completely jammed with traffic. In the center of the mess two fire engines are parked at the front of the school. Though their placement is cause of this mess, the great disorder lends me to assume they are only nominally in charge. Walking by the fire trucks and a group of firemen standing outside them I notice my friend BA among them. Not surprised at all to see him working as I fireman I am struck by a sudden sense of irregularity of the whole setting. Meeting such different individuals that I know at one place. While this idea begins to kindle in the back of my mind I shout a greeting at him. Walking away I catch I nod of recognition but continue on my way knowing he will be busy.
Leaving my car parked in this parking lot, for it would be unreasonable to expect to penetrate the snarling deadlock that surrounds the fire trucks, I take my leave of the elementary. I gain a loose assortment of friends on this sidewalk and continue forward with no certain destination. Perhaps from my previous insight I lose my strict relationship with the ground. I find that lifting my legs in a leap requires no timely placing of them for landing. In fact I can stay in mid leap as long as my faith holds. Spinning about in one place about a meter above the ground I marvel at my fortune and revel in my newly found talent. The marvel is short lived as I find that I can gain no real altitude remaining at a mere meter off the ground. Flying unassisted among the clouds seems not in the cards today. Instead I hang like a marionette.
