Small Town Celebrates 4th of July with Water Polo Games

"Come on, Sharyl, we need you on our team." The 4^th of July celebration was in full swing. The small town's population had swelled to nearly triple its usual size. We were all gathered at the town park for an afternoon full of fun and games. The huge elm trees offered welcome shade to the masses as people ate barbeque and visited with neighbors and friends.



"Sherry, I don't even know what water polo is." I said as I tried to find some excuse to stay out of the sweltering heat of the sun. Melanie and Sherry were both watching the crowd that was gathering around the tennis court where the water polo matches would take place.



"You'll love it." Sherry promised. I grudgingly got up and followed my best friends out into the heat. Being from a small town in the desert southwest, I had no idea what water polo was. I also had no idea that the town's 4^th of July celebration had little resemblance to a real water polo match.



The first thing our team had to do was put on overcoats that belonged to the local volunteer fire department. Just what I needed was a heavy coat to wear during the heat of the day. The organizers also insisted we put on hard hats. Just what in the world had Sherry and Melanie got me into?



Unfortunately for me, our team was one of the first to go, so I did not even get to see a water polo match for an idea of what was coming. The organizers had two tankers from the volunteer fire department set up on either side of the tennis court. Long hoses that led to the tankers were thrust into our arms. The three of us grabbed the huge hose and waited for the event to begin.



Above the tennis court was a long rope from which hung a basketball sized ball. The ball was centered above the court and the goal of the match was to use the high pressure water from the hose to push the ball to the opposite side of the court. In the mean time, a second team was going to try to push the ball over to our side of the court. At least now there was some reasoning behind the heavy jackets and hardhats.



A whistle suddenly sounded in the crowd and Sherry, being on point, turned opened the nozzle on the fire hose. The thing came alive like a huge snake. I hung on and tried to brace it so Sherry could aim it at the ball.



Wave after wave of water fell from the sky as the other team did their best to blow the ball our way, but Sherry was stubborn and Melanie and I had the size to back her up. We won the water polo match handily and got a good soaking for our troubles.



When Sherry turned off the hose and it fell limply from our arms, she turned, "Love it?"



"You bet! When's the next match?" We ended up placing third in the water polo event. The soaking from the hoses was a wonderful relief from the 4^th of July heat. It was several years later that I learned what a true water polo match was.