As the sun peeked out from behind old clouds, the kids squirmed to play outside. For too many days, the rain had kept them sequestered — bored but safe and dry.
The lonely backyard beckoned my children. So I slid the heavy glass door wide. The sunshine meant playtime. Finally. In fresh air. Under a blue swept sky.
I continued to clean while I listened to my boy and girl chirp and squeal, their laughter warming me right.
No computer games today. No Nintendo. No Wii.
Just dewy grass and bouncy balls. The way play was meant to be.
The sounds of happy floated high. Until the doorbell rang . . . with my new neighbor standing grim, letting me know that my kids had been . . . throwing our kumquats over the fence, landing in her pool.
Oh my.
I called their names. And asked them questions.
Sure enough. They created a game called Who Can Throw the Highest?
The fruit just disappeared they said. They didn’t know where the yellows balls of mush had fallen. (They also never bothered to find out.)
And isn’t that just like us all?
When hanging ripe from green limbs, presenting all sorts of happy opportunity, we find delirious ways to make up fun. Never paying any mind to the outcome.
Yet, this same juicy opportunity presented a new one. An apt apology. And a sincere request for permission to clean our mess. The opportunity to forge a connection next door. In ways I had never thought of before.
Has an unlikely opportunity ever brought a new encounter with a neighbor?
QUICK UPDATE: I just learned that the fruit tree in my backyard is actually
a loquat, not a kumquat. Who knew? (I am seriously fruit-and-vegetable challenged!) 
Linking today with Lisa-Jo, taking five minutes to write about opportunity.
Great story! Who knew kumquats were an unwelcome pool addition?
Sunshine and warmth and grass sound really great right about now—I’m in Alaska.
Have a great Friday!
Oh, my husband and I love Alaska. We went there for our honeymoon. It’s so beautiful there.
great story… my kids are always providing similar opportunities for me as well.
we had one of those unlikely opportunity encounters just last night – although it was with folks passing through, not a new neighbor.
I hope it went well!
Oh my! Who knew kumquats could wreak such havoc?
I hope your neighbor showed them a bit of grace…
and I pray I do the same.
beautiful write, Denise!
Yes, they were gracious.
Oh! What a come-down: kumquats in the neighbor’s pool! But yes, that was an opportunity, too — and one you never would have thought of! What a great story in five little minutes!
Thanks, Sylvia. I hope your New Year is filled with delight.
Oh Denise, reading your kumquat neighbour adventures brought a smile to my face. The picture that you paint with your words….brilliant!!
Happy Friday!!
Thank you, Nerina. It’s nice to “meet” you.
Hope your opportunity for apology was met with an opportunity for grace. Loved your five minute words today!
Yes, the neighbors extended grace. Thank heavens!
I love your story and that you used this as an opportunity for a connection with your neighbor.
I have a walnut tree in my backyard and you can probably guess the rest……..
Walnuts!?! Oh my. That would hurt.
It sounds like you turned it into a fruitful opportunity on several fronts…Happy New Year, Denise
What delightful fun your kids had…have to admire their ingenuity 
Oh, Dolly, it’s always a blessing to hear from you. Happy New Year to you as well, my friend.
I love this story…and all the opportunities presented! As for the fruit, I wouldn’t know a loquat from a kumquat. Do you eat them?
I’m afraid I don’t eat anything I can’t identify or pronounce. Honestly, I don’t have the faintest idea how to go about eating such a fruit. I have enough of a challenge eating an apple a day!