| What are toys, anyway? To me they area transport | | | | house and retrieved figurines and toy cars suitable for |
| to fantasy,a source of dismay,a simple distraction,food | | | | volcanic demolition. With no concern for his own |
| for creativity.a link to a better time.but to all, an absolute | | | | safety, he had removed every bit of baking soda from |
| necessity. | | | | his mothers' kitchen. After a brief but heated exchange |
| Do you recall your childhood? I know mine consisted of | | | | it was determined that there was not nearly enough |
| creating a mound of dirt under the huge oak tree in the | | | | for the desired effect, and that turning the water |
| back yard. I would pack it down tight and poke a hole | | | | pressure up was the key. |
| down the center from its peak to the base. Then a | | | | His mother, who by now had become aware of the |
| garden hose, previously placed, would direct a flow of | | | | "Great Tomato Sauce Oversight," as it became |
| water out the newly created channel, and presto, a | | | | known, was now talking with my mother. I uttered the |
| new volcano was born! Of course this was no simple | | | | late 60's version of "that can't be good," offered my |
| task, as every piece of my Tonka arsenal was called | | | | friend a can of liquid absolution; in this case, tomato |
| into service. | | | | sauce. My mother, moved by this gesture, offered tips |
| The "Chaos" effect had nothing to do with a butterfly | | | | for a more authentic Vesuvial re-incarnation, recalling a |
| in Peking, more like my mother raging at the mud | | | | tom boy of old. |
| caked on my clothes. She had not realized the | | | | There is no way of knowing what a child will |
| engineering marvel that was now our backyard | | | | remember. We, as parents, can't always know the |
| centerpiece, dwarfing the oak tree in significance. | | | | lasting effect our actions will have on our children. The |
| Now here comes my friend, the schoolmate who lived | | | | ability to see through the eyes of a child can not only |
| down the street. Sent to the nearby store for a can of | | | | help us to do just that, but can resolve an inner conflict, |
| tomato sauce, he now stared in amazement at the | | | | long dormant in our own psyche. There is too much |
| 8th wonder of the world, only minutes old. The | | | | selfishness today. Young children are looked upon as |
| Egyptians had nothing on me! Even though the | | | | toys themselves, or, worse yet, property. I pray for the |
| summer sun was in full power we were undaunted, | | | | child, trapped, controlled by a monster, bent on |
| encouraged by the oak trees' ability to dissipate heat. | | | | exacting his toll on innocence. Children of all ages |
| Fired by inspiration and totally liberating his mind of the | | | | should have toys, something that sparks playfulness |
| tomato sauce assignment, my friend ran back to his | | | | and sinless rejuvenation. |