Recess

Remember how fun recess was? My sister and I were talking about how fun recess was, and I feel that it was an integral part of growing up. My favorite games to play at recess was football or four squares or knockout. My least favorite game was staying in the cafeteria doing homework that was due in the afternoon since I didn't do it the night before because I was playing video games and/or watching TV. It was a break, in between lunch and 5th period English class, where there were absolutely no rules. None whatsoever.

Recess was not just about playing games or doing unfinished homework. Recess was a dog eat dog world, and not just because dogs ate dogs, but also because children were ruthless. Only the strong survived at recess, although the weak also survived, because I went to grade school in the mid-90s when children settled their differences not by shooting each other, but by mercilessly making fun of the other until one was driven to tears. Recess was all about separating men from the boys. This is because child molestation is illegal, and men aren't supposed to be hanging around grade schools at 12:30 in the afternoon anyway. They should be working, or at least, getting drunk at the local tavern because they are unhappy with the way life has turned out.

One man who was allowed to hang around during recess was Mr. J, our friendly gym teacher. Mr. J, not only supervised recess, he lived in a van in the parking lot at school. He also wore the same blue jumpsuit every day, with black Nike sneakers.

Recess was fun.