When the Lights Come On

Last night about 50 Jr. High kids came to help clean up various yards around our neighborhood. The only problem was, they got here about 6:45, and it's late September, so within a half hour they were working in the dark.

The main project was an overgrown yard of an abandoned house that used to be a crack house. I knew it would be a mess, but they took to it like it was no problem. They cut down weeds, hauled off trash, and 4 girls began to pick up a roll of carpet that was buried in the weeds.

I thought they could use some light, so I went and got a work light and ran the cord out my back door and across the alley. I turned it on just as they unrolled a portion of it to grip and pick up.

I'm not sure what they saw when the lights came on, but simultaneously hearing four 6th grade girls scream at the top of their lungs is something I will not soon forget...