Revision

The backyard filled with dirty snowmelt and rain containing god knows what cocktail of industrial contaminants and suburban runoff.

It froze over in the bitter cold, trapping bits of trash, stray garbage can lids, two seasons' worth of forgotten toys and a pumpkin carcass, frozen in mid-rot.

Here and there, jaggged chunks of old brick, tossed by the boy for no particular reason, jut out of the ice just far enough to be dangerous.

Blood will be spilled. I am sure of it.

The photographer sees none of it. 

He shuffles along the ice with his camera, looking at his feet. He crouches for a closer look. He turns over a chunk of ice, a dead leaf. 

He sees stuff that isn't there.  But it's worth a second look.

  

      

Photos by Rick McCawley  

Comments

[eurolush]

I imagine that first photo is the direct result of your ill-advised, but highly entertaining New Year's Eve Backyard "Ice Capades" Show.

You should probably avoid the triple axel attempt next time. No one believed you when you said you'd already landed it hundreds of times before. They certainly didn't believe it when you lunged into the air and ended up breaking through the back fence into your neighbor's yard. Awkward.

I'm not saying it wasn't entertaining. I'm just suggesting something a little more attainable next time.

PS- The last two photos look as though someone has unearthed a rough-cut diamond in the backyard. Perhaps your ship has finally come in.

[Suburban Kamikaze]

All I can say is, I am very, very thankful that no one at my New Year's Eve gathering thought to suggest backyard Ice Capades.

SK

[MommyTime]

These are gorgeous photos. And in that top one, someone has definitely been practicing her ice-dancing spins (though perhaps in secret).