Gymnopaedia

It all starts when an older girl finishes drinking her Orange Crush and throws her empty bottle against the fire hydrant in the middle of the circular drive. All the other kids like the sound of glass breaking against the fire hydrant so much that they hurl their bottles against the fire hydrant too. One by one, they hurl their bottles against the fire hydrant. Some don’t even finish drinking their soda but throw their bottles with the orange fluid still inside with glee. Who would think that breaking glass could be so much fun? Not these little tykes. One by one, in an orderly procession, they smash their bottles against the fire hydrant. Though the first child is the ringleader, she doesn't have to ssue any commands. She towers over them like a drill sergeant, overseeing the recruits running through the obstacle course, watching with approval as the other children smash their bottles in a suburban rite of conformity. All that the girl lacks is the dark green Smokey the Bear hat on her head. Then an adult emerges from the backyard of the house where somebody is having a barbecue. Some of the kids, including the ringleader, scatter like shrapnel from an improvised explosive device. Those that stay clean up this mess. What can they do? How will they get home if their parents don’t take them home? They pick up all the glass around the fire hydrant, chastened and embarrassed. None of them will ever mention this incident again after they pick up all the glass.