Every morning before the school bell rings, a group of third grade boys, led by Drew and SiMi, play 4-square. It's certainly not the 4-square I played growing up. This game has its own set of rules that the boys all understand, but are foreign to those who don't play. Terms like "back stop," "chicken feet," "king's eye," "old man" and "happy town" are thrown around to set up the rules of the game. I'll be honest here: after watching countless numbers of these matches this school year, I still don't fully understand all the rules and exceptions. The boys who participate, however, know exactly what's going on. Occasionally a player is called out and contests the call. A small argument ensues. Then the captain of the square will ask those playing and those waiting in line, "Who thinks so-and-so's out?" The boys raise their hands (or not). Majority rules.
This 4-square ritual has gone on all year. Neither wind nor snow nor ice has stopped the game. As long as the students are allowed to wait outside, the boys (and occasionally, a girl or two) have played on. Nothing has stopped them. As the school year winds to a close, I wonder if this ritual can stand its biggest pause yet: summer break. Only time will tell.
