POEM - Traying

In the end it was an experiment

In multiple disciplines

There were sociological and ethical questions

Tests in material sciences

A good amount of physics

And some fluid dynamics

It was Barz who played the teacher

The recently arrived pied piper of Frisco

As it so often was in those days

He always seemed to have a good idea

Of how to have fun

That if someone took offense

Probably pushed right up against illegal

But this activity was one of my favorites

He picked me up at my house

To hang out, get a burger

Smooze my parents with that winning smile

Promise to have me back at a decent hour

Once we got in the car he pointed to the back seat

To a collection of trays

Of varying origins

Liberated for the evening’s entertainment

“First of all you have to have a good rain”

Of course

“And you need a front wheel drive”

Obviously

“And a nice big, empty parking lot”

It would be a shame not to, but why?

“For traying, brother! Haven’t you ever been traying?”

The look of bewilderment said no

The maniacal giggle from Barz meant trouble

We did get a burger first

            We needed more trays I was informed

The social and ethical portion of  the experiment

I went with peer pressure, for the fun of it

Then off to the previously scouted location

The Presbyterian church down the road

They had added a parking lot in back

With no parking blocks or light poles

Mucking up the middle of it

This is where the hard science began in earnest

And the details began to unfold

“See you place the trays at the back wheels”

Check

“Then I roll my tires up on to them”

            Gotcha. Now what?

“Get in, buckle up, and hold on!”

What followed was pure adrenaline induced joy

Barz’s Dodge Charger roared into action

As we tore across the parking lot

Then suddenly Barz’s spun the wheel

And we pirouetted in exactly the way cars don’t

Again and again to increasingly hilarious effect

Until the trays wore out

The fiberglass trays weren’t as good as you’d expect

Wore out after one spin

MickeyD’s were the best

We gave up before they did