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Christopher doing his best to squeeze in to one of the many pool boxes.
June 10, 2015
Christopher doing his best to squeeze in to one of the many pool boxes.
June 10, 2015
All good things come in a box. I guess, except for a car. A new car would be great. But who places a brand-new car in a box? Many pleasures can come in a box. Condoms, for instance. An ice cream cake and desserts in general. Holidays come in a box. Pick a major holiday and think of all the fun you've had out of a box. Food! Except for the box, it's all edible and delicious Chinese food, pizza, and cookies. And Cats, who don't feel all warm inside when their cat curls up in a shoe box!
You get the hint that I'm big on everything in a box, except a wooden box, made for your burial, if you elected to meet a gunslinger in the middle of the street in the old American West.
I can think of so many other things, but who would have thought, "Gee Chris, what about a pool in a box? Isn't that cool?"
Well, wait no further!
I have wanted an in-ground pool for some time, but I don't have the 30 or 40,000.00 dollars it would require to purchase such a nice item. My boys would love the cool water and the cannonballs from the deck. It's a luxury I won't get until I see the surprise in a square box!
I was buying simple items that make life pleasurable at one of the major Big Box stores the other day. And, of course, most of those items came in boxes that were stocked on the shelves. On my way past the artificial preservatives, sweets, corn syrup, chocolate, and other delectables, I noticed, what else, a pool in a box.
"16x48 above-ground pool. It holds 5,000 gallons, has a pump, and is simple to put together," I said aloud, reading some of the print on the face of the box.
Wow! This was better than a cereal box that had a toy inside.
I tried to lift the box into my cart. However, it was 180 lbs, and I was all alone trying to place it in my grocery cart box. I needed some help.
I scoured the four corners of the store but couldn't find anyone. I must have walked over 5,000 square boxes and tiles to find an associate to help me buy this thing and load it in my mini-van.
Excitedly, I drove home because I knew my boys would be ecstatic. It would be great to have some fun in the sun while playing in a pool, to keep them cool from the hot summer days.
I parked in the driveway, exited my car, and approached my house. This would be a glorious moment when my boys see what I have! My Nissan Quest looks like a box, and when I automatically open the hatch and expose the pool inside, it will be like opening a gift.
The first one to greet me by the van was my 5-year-old, Christopher.
"A pool! A pool," he shouted. "Nico! We have a pool come look.
Nico rushed out the front door and to the car.
"Surprise!" Christopher yelled.
They gleefully jumped up and down, excited for their new pool in a box.
I dragged the pool across my driveway, but I needed help. I called a good friend who helped me with our new summer fun.
"Chris, open the box and carry parts of the pool individually to the area where the pool will be," he said.
"Crap, that's smart."
My friend tore the box open, and out fell more boxes. The pool liner is square. The pool cover is square. The pump and accessories are square and square. I'm getting overwhelmed by boxes!
I piled up the pieces I needed and opened the singular boxes to build my pool.
1st, I located a flat, square place in my yard.
2nd, I laid the structure out and began to build the sides
3rd, I put the legs on the sides of the pool structure. <click> the square pegs locked into place. and lifted the vinyl and sides up in the air
4th, I walked around the pool and steadied the rectangular legs so they'd be even space
5th filled the pool with water.
This was going to be fun. The boys were so excited they were already standing naked, ready to jump in.
"Umm, guys, we have several hours until this fills up with water. Put your clothes back on until it's ready to play in."
We walked back inside. The boys were clearly disappointed. They were ready to jump in. The hours ticked away. 1 hour down, but then there was another hour up, then that hour would pass, and we'd have to wait another hour. Like cooking a turkey, the pool painfully filled with water slowly but surely. The anticipation was agonizing. Until I heard the yells.
"Daddy! Daddy! Come see," Nico said.
I peered out the window and saw the water was finally high enough to enjoy the pool.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Get dressed, and let's go swimming!"
They were breathless and almost tripped on each other, trying to get in. First, Nico, then Christopher, and I followed in behind them.
"See, boys, what did I tell ya? This is great, right."
"Yes, Daddy," Nico said.
"I mean, come on, pool fun that came in a square box. All things fun come in a square box. You can't beat this."
"But daddy," Christopher said, "the pool's round."
The pool is round.
Added on June 9, 2016, from March 2016
919 words
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