ORBITING

Kindergarten playground, out back of Lakeside Elementary School, circa 1976. Half a dozen of us digging like mad. A red-dirt crater the size of an Apollo space capsule.

To a person, we probably looked like a brochure picture for Bicentennial-America schools—every race and creed represented.

We did this every day after lunch at recess. Our aim? Digging and outfitting our own Bat Cave.

I remember the conversations we’d share over determined scraping with pine branch sticks and defiant shoe kicks. We spoke of the need for concrete for walls, electric wiring for lights, HVAC, food, gadget and gizmos…and a Batmobile, of course. But that would come later. After the tunneling was complete.

That year, our class field-tripped deep inside Ruby Falls. And after that, our labors seemed vain.

I think of recess at Lakeside when the calendar says we start filming today…and I’m at home doing laundry.