Maypole Dance
You know that thing where it feels like the best thing ever? Like that first day wearing short sleeves in spring, when Mrs. Layman, the Phys. Ed. teacher, brings your second grade class outdoors to the pavement AND she brings the portable record player. So you just know. You see the tall steel pole. The one usually used for basketball – this time no net – just a rainbow of ribbons dangling perfectly down. After the instructions, you take your place and hold the end of your ribbon. And you are listening to the record’s crackly popping quiet – you are listening and holding so still, waiting for those peppy polka horns to blare out and jump you into the Maypole dance.