Grounders

In grade 3, outside on the playground, I remember laughing when a kid bumped their head on a metal pole. I no longer laugh at such a thing because like some bad karma I bumped my head on that same pole on that same day even. I remember the day being bright and sunny, it was near the end of the year and I thought it would never be cold again. The playground was almost disgustingly hot, everyone had sweated enough to take off their jackets and we could see the wavy heat rising from the ground. My friends and I had taken over the entire playground playing grounders, kicking off anyone younger than us and shunning them to the swings.

That day I was It. My eyes were closed and my hands outstretched before me. Feeling around me I stumbled up steps hidden to me yet I knew where to go, knew where I wanted to go. All I could tell was my surroundings were quite any noise anyone made, I would hear. No, they were waiting for me to make the first move. There where hiding spots everywhere near me and the plastic around me was bound to be warm to the touch, the smell of the play ground was familiar and I had no idea where to go. I decided to draw someone out.

Facing where I knew to be the most popular hiding spot was, I made a face. I scrunched up my nose and drew up my lips into a snarl, I stuck my tongue out into the comparably cool outside. My cheeks started to redden as my face held, and nothing happened for at least several heartbeats, until quite a lot of giggling was heard.

“That’s not fair.” Lynn screamed almost in excitement, more in good humor, as I headed to where I heard them. My body moving fast regardless of my closed eyelids and the obsticals in my way.

“Ryan, move!”

“I got here first, you move!”

“Oh no! Emily, move!” Even more shuffling was heard as I headed to the small rock climbing wall and reaching out, I tried my hardest to tag them. But when I couldn’t, I moved quickly. Reaching over for someplace to grab, I hauled my body to where I thought they were, hoping to touch someone at least. I shuffled over and swung blindly, more than once, yet not tagging anybody. With disappointment, I knew I was still It.

“Go away Austin, this is my hiding spot!” I heard Emily stage-whisper from somewhere far to my right. I had to hurry, I thought, before they moved elsewhere, gathering my waning confidence I started to swing back to where I heard them, my hands tightening around the pole before, my skin shifting, before I let go.

I never reached them, my foot slipping off the edge, my finger had already let go of the low wall and The metal bar in front of me rushed up to my head without me knowing as my eyes were still closed. My momentum carried my head to the metal bar and my face landed with a solid thunk.

I realied backwards and fell, my eyes opening up to see the sky as the ground rushed up to meet me. I lay there stunned and staring at the equipment before me, the faces of children stared back, an adult was rushing toward me and everyone was coming to see if I was okay. I slowly got up, knowing I had a funny stunned face on, then promptly burst into tears.

The teacher reassured me but the damage was done, the kids were told not to play grounders and I had to talk a trip the nurses office, just in case. The mood of the day had gone down to zero and everyone could feel it, I was quite the whole way and I knew my teacher was worried, I didn’t come out for the rest of recess. After that day I never laughed when someone hit they’re head on any pole, no matter how funny it turns out to be.