Water and Children

Caleb and Joy love to stand at the water’s edge and test their limits. They love to lock their knees bent at the waist and put their fingers in the water. Caleb and Joy have both taken a turn falling right in.
Under our building where we park our car there is a dark and dangerous hole. We don’t know the purpose of the hole, why it is a foot deep with water, or why there are electrical wires leading into the water. Back in cold December Caleb tripped and fell right into the hole head first. His feet were kicking around up in the air with head and shoulders plunged down into the water. I ran with Joy in one arm and yanked Caleb up by the leg out of the water. His head, hat, and coat were soaking wet. We ran him home for a hot bath.
Spring is here and the tulips have bloomed in our favorite park. We brought some chicken, apples, and chips ahoy and chose a spot by the little lake in the tulip park. I wondered if this was a safe place for a picnic close to the water with small children, but Joy was already sitting down eating her chicken leg. After the battle for the last cookie GaoYan walked to the water’s edge to wash her hands. I was packing up the bag and I turned my back for a half second. Joy was not just running for the water. Joy was barreling for the water, like the winning run rounding third and headed for home plate.
I yelled out, “Joy! Joy!” GaoYan turned with wide surprised terrified eyes and open arms.
Joy slid in under her catch. If it was a baseball game GaoYan clearly made the tag and the runner is out. But Joy’s legs, shoes, socks and pants were covered in wet sticky mud.
One lady said, “How fun. That little girl jumped in the water.”
A nice man gave us one of those tiny packages of napkins.
We stripped off Joy’s muddy clothes, changed her diaper, and headed back home for a hot bath.