A Perfect Mid-western Evening

Saturday night at Jeff and Michelle's house. Picture this: all the neighborhood kids are next door playing a basketball game. Girls and boys of every age, working together, cheering and clapping--like music. One little boy from three doors down jumping on a pogo stick in front of us, trying his hardest to bounce more than seven times, trying harder still not to fall and hit his head on the cement sidewalk. Another neighbor sits and plays with his Scottie dog, tossing a ball four or five houses away and waiting for the inevitable return of the ball every single time. On Jeff and Michelle's front porch, we are perched in wicker chairs, or on the edge of the step, or at the corner of the porch, just watching and listening and talking and smiling.