during the 1970’s, even in my small riverside village,
a certain social order revolved around
what type of swimming pool
was installed on your property.
the scientist who installed the first
solar panels i had ever seen
did not have a pool.
he filled a cheap plastic substitute,
bought at the local discount store,
with cold water from the garden hose.
the businessman, who ran a recycling plant,
installed a solar blanket,
to keep their in ground pool
at a consistent temperature.
he openly invited us to swim
and share what his children,
who were our friends,
were privileged to know.
my best friends in the neighborhood;
a set of identical twins,
were the fortunate recipients of an
above ground pool-
twice the size my parents could afford.
the Eastman’s house was exactly halfway between
my house and the twins.
they also had a pool. it was surrounded by a wooden deck,
and a traditional slat fence where the Eastman’s
had hung a few humorous signs dictated by that
particular decade. the wooden signs were held
by loose framing wire on exposed
nails which were already showing signs of rust.
“i don’t swim in your toilet-
don’t pee in my pool.”
my family, under some social duress,
bought an entry level pool
at the local discount store.
i was surprised my parents felt a need
to keep up with the Eastmans,
or the Carpenters, or the Peters.
were they actualizing equality,
or an illusion?
perhaps,
it was about their own
reconciliation.
the local firehouse was located
a city block from my childhood home.
we were not in a city- however the opening of the firehouse doors,
and the initial blare of the sirens,
were intoxicating to us; the unknowing dictated our attention.
everything would cease
as we tried to catch a glimpse
of the deep red vehicles
as they exited
under the perforated glass walls
that would would ceremoniously rise
after the alarm.
the trucks never had to enter
into our neighborhood.
in the twilight of this evening,
as i toweled off, pleading
for one last minute in the pool;
we heard the first siren.
“they are coming down the Avenue.”
stated my mother, with an unavoidably
specific declaration.
she was correct, as we heard the tires of the firetrucks
grind as they took the right hand turn onto
Overlook Avenue.
ambulances from various districts
began to appear,
the Hoxie Hook and Ladder arrived in support.
as we watched the distress unfold,
we crept closer to the fire.
“where is Jeremy? have you seen him?”
i watched my mother ask my father
a question
he had no answer to.
the sirens continued to commandeer
the frequency of an emergency.
i suddenly understood their temporary
commitment,
their vows.
i followed my mother down the Avenue,
as she began asking anyone in earshot, out of desperation,
“have you seen Jeremy….?”
“hey Mom, i’m over here…”
he was standing next to one of the firetrucks,
whose tires towered over him.
“that tire could have killed you!”
“i just wanted to watch…”
i walked briskly past the Eastmans driveway,
toward our house,
toward what i anticipated was coming next.
i overheard the Fire Chief ask Mr. Eastman if the Fire Department
could drain his pool to fight the fire.