Little Boys!

A yard of boys, roughly the same size, wearing jeans with blown knees, competing t-shirts—race cars, robots, trains and super heros.

They descend on one another in a cloud of dust, forming a nucleus at the base of the play structure. They growl, they hiss, they start to howl. Three run up the steps and down the slide, tumbling one on top of the other and landing in a heap.

"P-chew-chew!" 

"Pow- chook-chook-chook"

The mass of boys huddle close, cock their heads, raise their fists, until there is no distinguishing one from the other. They are a massive tussle, fists flying, tiny bodies piling up.

"Ugh – Oof – Hah!'

Their bodies start to fall a part, mothers / teachers intervene, prying open little hands, tufts of hair released... little boys, recently babies, sobbing from this sudden change of fate.

Time outs are held, apologies commanded, truces formed and promises of friendship executed – some denied.

Surprised by their power, shocked by their strength, they pair off and spread out across the yard. 

Their whispers and dialogue fill the play ground:

"That was scary!"

"He was sad."

"The boy with the robot shirt won't be my friend."

"Yeah - It happens."

"Come ON! Let's GO!"