Like Christmas

Nina went right up and over the fence.
While I was dithering,
Using a broom and rake as improvised tongs,
Not wanting to set a bad example-
The children hadn’t climbed THAT yet-
She was up and then down.
A moment’s pause to massage the tender parts of her that met the pointy parts of the fence
And she was there beside K’Sean’s boot.
It was the linchpin in a chain of inevitable actions:
K’Sean’s boot falls off
Russell grabs it and runs
A teacher gives chase
The boot is thrown to an almost inaccessible location.
Standing in a pile of similarly fated toys,
She picked up K’Sean’s boot and handed it over the fence.
“Can I have that pink bucket?” Chaylia said.
“Sure. What else do you want?”
They all started shouting out toys.
As fast as they named it, Nina scooped it up and tossed it over the fence.
Toys were flying through the air; It looked like Christmas.
“Say ‘thank you’. Say ‘thank you’,” I bawled; Some did.
Then, except for an old sock, Nina was alone
Surrounded by the fence
Surrounded by the playground of children gleefully discovering their old toys.