The Ice Caper

     The ice skating rink at the local recreation center is a popular winter place for children, teens and very fit adults. It is a few blocks from the house and sometimes a west wind will carry the happy sound of music and laughter, or the shouts and cracks of a fierce hockey game. Recently the rink closed for the season and now stands silent and empty.

     I often think back to my own childhood when skating was allowed at a little pond not too far from the house, or at a nearby park atop a baseball field flooded by the local fire department. It wasn't often cold enough for either, so lacing up the skates was always a treat. One year we took a risk, pulled the garden hose out of the garage, and flooded half of our own backyard. (Why risky? Because Dad was meticulous about his lawn. Even with seven children and assorted neighbors, he managed to maintain a lovely carpet of luxurious green. Our gentle father supervised the mowing and trimming with drill sergeant finesse!) The homemade rink was small and very lumpy but served its purpose and garnered a full afternoon of entertainment. The expected reprimand was dispensed at the dinner table that evening and we all went to bed with reminders of proper care of garden hoses and a raised awareness of grass-damaging behaviour. However before slumber overtook us, we heard a slight commotion in the backyard. Peering out the second story windows of our bedroom, we spied Dad with his deluxe garden hose in hand, spraying new layers of water on our rink, that would quickly become a fine smooth, level arena. With conspiratorial grins, we climbed back under our covers. Nothing would be said, but tomorrow held the unbelievable promise of even more winter fun than today!