Summer Tar

One of my favorite things about summer is walking around in the neighborhoods near my house and finding the lines of tar put down to cover big cracks in the road. I love to step on the tar with the ball or heel of my shoe, and twist so that the softened tar moves and stretches with the pressure of my foot, leaving an imprint of my step for a few seconds before returning to it's original smoothness.

It's best when I'm weaing a sneaker, or some type of shoe with a tread on its sole. The imprint of the tread lasts longer, like I'm leaving my signature, letting the next passerby know "I was here."

A thicker muck of tar is the best. My heel sinks lightly into the soft mush, like I'm checking the temperature of a pool of pudding. And when there is a whole group of goopy tar all spiraled together in a coiled pattern, so every step delves into another pool - I can't hide the silly grin that crosses my face. I giggled out loud yesterday when I got to my favorite cluster of tar snakes during an exceptionally warm day. I'm glad my neighbors don't seem to exist outside their homes these days. I don't know if they'd understand the joy I feel from smushing my foot into the gooey substances on their roads.

In all honesty, I don't really understand it either. I'm not sure why this tickles my fancy so much, but I think it has to do with the natural happiness I feel about Summer. It's hot and sometimes uncomfortable, but I can't deny the giddiness I feel everytime I walk outside to an inviting sun, beckoning me to play. I automatically close my eyes and smile whenever the warm breeze gently plays with my hair and tickles my neck. It's like flirting with that cute boy I finally got up the courage to talk to - I can't get to sleep because I'm so giddy, and I can't wait to find out what it will be like tomorrow. Will I be just as happy? Will he notice me again? Will my cheeks turn red just at the sight of him?

And it seems to turn out that, every next day, I am just as happy. He does notice me again. My cheeks do go red. Then they peel, and I feel like I have a disease as my skin flakes off on my face and arms. But even that brings a smile to my face. Because it means I've been spending the day playing in beautiful, sunny, warm weather! It's summer, and I'm going to go play with the tar on the streets!